Herts Young Homeless launches crisis appeal

An organisation in Hertfordshire is appealing for the public's help in helping the young homeless people across the county.

Herts Young Homeless (HYH) has set up a crisis appeal to help them support young people affected by the coronavirus outbreak.

The not-for-profit organisation is asking for help to get vulnerable people the urgent support and supplies they need.

Caroline​ Neill, fundraising and communications manager said: "All of our services including our Advice Line are continuing to operate and we are connecting frequently with young people facing homelessness through video calls.

"We are helping with benefit applications and getting vulnerable people the essential food and supplies that they need as well as offering wellbeing and mental health support.

"We would like to thank the community for their support at this difficult time when we have additional costs and yet none of our usual fundraising activities can go ahead.

"The services are more vital than ever at this time."

Referrals to the services have increased since lockdown with those who have been sofa-surfing being asked to leave their accommodation.

Staff are still available to offer intensive advice and support and are keeping in touch with the vulnerable service users more frequently through phone and video calls – working with their partners to arrange crisis accommodation, supply health information, apply for benefits, distribute supermarket vouchers and provide access to foodbanks.

The charity's normal fundraising activities have been suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic, funding is needed to buy the technology to keep the service users - many of whom don't have working mobiles or enough date - and the staff connected.

The money raised will be used to assist the service users and their families during the COVID-19 crisis.

Helen Elliott, Chief Executive of Herts Young Homeless, said: "I’m so very proud of all our HYH team who have had to change the way that we work in order to continue supporting young people in Hertfordshire.

"We were able to be very agile in responding to the needs of our service users, and have continued to run all our services across the county.

"Many of our service users are suffering from anxiety and depression due to the worry about the virus, and we are able to give advice and support including virtual meetings to offer community contact, peer to peer support and online training including wellbeing sessions.

"Providing advice to those facing housing issues and preventing homelessness remains our priority and we are working hard with our partners to arrange crisis accommodation, apply for benefits and supporting with supermarket vouchers and access to Foodbanks.

However, as a charity we rely on our own fundraising activities to support the services that we deliver. Like so many other charities we have had to suspend many of our activities and we are predicting a shortfall of at least £100,000 in our income.

"We are facing additional costs particularly in buying the technology we need to keep our service users and staff connected.

"We have been really grateful to our local community for their support at this difficult time."

They are trying to raise £20,000 and have already raised over £7,500, to make a donation click here.