Scottish charity to examine homelessness in Guernsey

Work is under way to help set up a dedicated homeless charity in Guernsey

A Guernsey charity has partnered with a Scottish organisation to help tackle homelessness.

The Guernsey Community Foundation said it was working with Homeless Network Scotland (HNS) with an aim to set up a Guernsey-based homelessness charity.

It comes after the foundation last year found a "significant and hidden homelessness problem" in Guernsey.

It found the number of people waiting for social housing had reached a 12-year high.

People are classified as "insecurely housed" if they live in hotels, emergency housing or have three separate addresses over the space of one year.

The foundation said HNS would be speaking to men and women who have experienced homelessness on the island.

It said the organisation would then produce a report based on the findings.

Jim Roberts, the foundation's chief executive, said there was a need for a homelessness charity based in Guernsey.

“Unlike other jurisdictions, Guernsey does not have a charity that’s focused on providing support to the homeless," he said.

"Action for Children do a fantastic job helping young people, but if you’re over 25 and you’re sofa surfing, or sleeping rough, or living in substandard, unaffordable or temporary accommodation, you’re on your own.

"We know that many local charities offer some form of help to people in those situations, but it’s never their core function."