About the House.

The Friends First House offers a place of community, stability, safety, and support for homeless men and women. Issues from the past can be thought about and addressed, and realistic and achievable plans for the future can be made with confidence. 

I came to the House cold, hungry, depressed, and with broken bones. It was very helpful to have someone who I could trust and talk to, and who could help me. You feel that there is light at the end of the tunnel. Now my life is transformed! …I have a job, a place to live, and hope. Friends First has been fantastic to me; words cannot describe how thankful I am. House resident

The House is not a short-stay hostel and does not accept emergency referrals. It is a stepping stone for homeless men and women who have expressed a desire to live independently, but who need a period of stability and support beforehand in order to achieve this.

The Friends First House is home to 12 people; both men and women at any one time.

* The picture and the quote do not relate.

Learn More

 

In 2002 the Friends First House was set up by Church of Christ the King, in partnership with Brighton & Hove City Council’s, Supporting People Team. The aim was to provide accommodation for homeless men and women who had been assessed as needing a period of intensive support in order to work towards independent living.

The House provides mixed accommodation for single homeless people, in addition to  private and secure facilities for women.

We house many different people of various ages; ensuring that we cater to a wide variety of needs (including the areas of sexual health, substance misuse, and mental health). 

Friends First gave me the support, and more importantly, the understanding that I sorely needed.  The staff encouraged me to confront fears and problems. This is something that I found extremely difficult, but in my view it has been essential.  Sometimes people need a little helping hand to be guided back into society. House resident

A stay at the Friends First House is part of a therapeutic programme designed to enable and empower people in need; providing one-to-one skilled personal support, an integrated life-skills programme, resettlement preparation, and follow-on support.

The House is built upon a community model that actively encourages involvement and participation.  Preparing and eating meals together; learning new skills; drawing on strengths; meeting challenges; and working together to overcome obstacles and personal differences as they arise, are some of the key elements of life within the House. 

The House has an excellent record of supporting people as they take the next step towards independent living. Of those who successfully move through the House, 90% sustain their independence.