Dover Outreach Centre

The Dover Outreach Centre is a charity which was set up in July 2016 to help rough sleepers, the homeless and those threatened with homelessness. We do not want to support anyone to remain rough sleeping or homeless, our aim is to support them out of homelessness. Their needs are not simple, with many struggling with alcohol and drug dependency following some incident of trauma in their lives.

There are currently 4 areas that we operate in, and I set out a summary of the work we are involved in as follows:

Day Centre this is open weekday mornings for Rough sleepers, homeless folks who are sofa surfing and those at risk of becoming homeless and provides:

o Simple breakfast

o Showers

o Laundry facilities

o Lockers

o Postal address

o Access to our Mental Health professional

o Free use of a telephone

o Access to computers

o Help with CV writing

o Benefits advice

o Signposting to other agencies

Winter Night Shelter for rough sleepers only

o Operates during the 3 or 4 coldest months of the year

o Moves from venue to venue each evening, usually church buildings

o Provision of hot meals, safe and warm place to stay

o Try to create a family type atmosphere and environment

o Capacity for 15 people per night

Social Enterprise Set up in July 2017 and currently have four people involved in this project:

o Painting, decorating, landscaping, carpentry

o Training and mentoring

o A route back into regular employment

o Short term contracts, 6 to 12 months

o Restoring value, self-worth and dignity through work achievement

Victory House Supported Accommodation taken on in April 2019 and located at our base in Snargate Street and above our Centre and offices, comprises:

o 17 Single occupancy en-suite rooms

o Shared kitchens and laundry

o 3 bedroom self-contained flat

o Residents occupy rooms on a licence basis and for up to 2 years

Since opening the doors of our Day Centre to our first guests on the 26th September 2016 we have seen over 700 different people. Of these we have helped to house 178 and found work for 54. This has not been done in isolation but with the help and involvement of other agencies, the Local Authority and charities. We are proud of these achievements but know that there is much still to do.

We are currently developing plans for future initiatives as follows:

Sunrise Café

o Community Café initiative

o Located in Snargate Street next to our Centre and Offices

o Open to all

o Customers to pay what they can afford

o Opportunities for training and employment

o Working towards an opening date of 3rd July 2021

Move On Houses

o The next step from supported accommodation

o Working with Hope Into Action and local Churches

o Anticipate first house to open in Summer 2021

o Working with St Pauls Catholic Church to develop up to 15 flats on land they own

Rehabilitation Centre

o Primarily for drug users

o Looking for 2 houses in rural locations in East Kent

o Accommodating up to 8 in each house

o Anticipate opening in 2022

Housing developments

o Main focus is to build good quality affordable homes

o Opportunities for the ex-homeless to work in the initiative and learn new skills

o Working with Dover District Council and a Local Developer

o In its early stages so hope to start in 2022/23