Last week, we were proud to open our new 24-hour supported accommodation project for young people facing homelessness in Kent.
Sunrise Foyer is a safe place where they can learn important life skills, such as budgeting and cooking, and be supported into education, training or employment.
Together with mhs homes’ existing Endeavour and Springboard Foyers, the scheme has the potential to change the lives of hundreds of young people in Medway.
We had a fantastic turnout of over 40 guests, including representatives from the Ministry of Housing, the Foyer Federation, Medway Council, and other partners. Local councillors Simon Curry and Louwella Prenter were joined by MP for Chatham and Aylesford, Tristan Osborne, and leader of Medway Council, Vince Maple, to officially open the new foyer.
Tristan Osborne MP said: “The new Sunrise Foyer will be a lifeline for young people who have nowhere else to go. Homelessness is devastating at any age, but young people are particularly at risk of exploitation and abuse. With somewhere safe to live, they can turn their lives around and move away from homelessness for good.”
As a community-facing project, the Foyer will bring local people and organisations together. Residents who live nearby have been invited in to meet the staff and be shown around and our teams are working closely with the council and other partners to make sure young people are supported to achieve the best outcomes.
The Foyer, which was part funded by the Single Homelessness Accommodation Programme, includes 25 studio flats, three one-bedroom flats and two which have been fully adapted to accommodate people with mobility issues.
There is plenty of green space as well as laundry and exercise facilities and an outbuilding for activities and workshops.
It will be a place for young people to feel safe and grow their skills and confidence so they can move on to an independent future.
Ashley Hook, mhs homes chief executive, commented: “Many of the young people in our Foyers have had a difficult start in life and come to us with complex challenges. But with a safe place to call home and the right support, they can go on to achieve their aspirations. Part of that is about helping to break the cycle of ‘no home, no job – no job, no home’, and this new Foyer will give even more young people a chance to develop an independent future for themselves. It will transform lives.”
Joel Lewis, Chief Executive of The Foyer Federation, added: “Last year, almost 136,000 young people experienced homelessness in the UK and we know that, without addressing the root cause, this number will continue to rise.
“Foyers proactively break the cycle of homelessness. They provide young people with an inspirational living and learning environment, where they can be themselves, develop their skills and access new opportunities. Foyers provide not just a safe and nurturing place to live but a place of purpose.
“We're delighted to see the new Sunrise Foyer opening in Kent and we look forward to working with them closely to ensure that young people who can't live at home can realise their own power and purpose in life.”
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