A Brief History of Brighton Housing Trust (BHT)

[Brighton Housing Trust], also known as BHT, was founded in about 1968. Originally it was known as the Brighton Hostel, which was the forerunner of BHT. It was set up in a single house in Islingword Road and registered as a charity providing shelter to single homeless people. Drinking was tolerated on the premises and the service was, in the main, used by men.

Gradually attempts were made to regulate the finances of the hostel. A Committee was formed and the 1970/71 accounts were the first accounts to be officially produced by an auditor.

Brighton Hostel compiled a report on street homelessness, highlighting the need for more hostel accommodation and other day services. Campaigning and fund-raising led to increased awareness of homelessness in the town and eventually a standing conference on homelessness.

In 1976 it was registered with the Housing Corporation and successful funding applications were made for a number of self-contained flats, originally designated for single mothers.

In 1977 the hostel moved to new premises at Dorset Gardens and the Brighton Hostel changed its name to Brighton Housing Trust. There were 2 wardens providing 24 hour lone cover on alternating 3 and 4 day shifts and 9 residents. BHT also employed its first fieldworker to organise the soup run and to provide support and advice to homeless people.

The hostel in Dorset Gardens became the Dry House in 1980, BHT’s first addiction service (and probably the first such service in Brighton)

In 1981 the Housing Advice Centre was opened. It employed 2 advice workers in offices in Ditchling Rise.

PACT handed over the management of First Base to BHT in 1982, a day centre for homeless and inadequately housed people. In this year too, BHT became a company limited by guarantee and appointed its first (part-time) Director, Matthew Bennett.

In 1983 BHT applied to the Manpower Services Commission for consideration under their Community Programme project and duly received funding for 25 workers who were employed in various aspects of BHT’s work. There were at this stage 10 permanent staff members.

In 1984 the major area of expansion was in the provision of housing for single people, partly with the aim of providing move-on from the hostel which by now had become a dry house for men. The Day Centre moved to St Stephen's in Montpelier Place. A full-time Director, Jenny Backwell, was appointed.

The interior of St Stephen's was once part of the Castle Ball Room in the Old Steine, the ball room for the Royal Pavilion. In the 1850's it was moved a mile up the road to St Stephens. Many of the original feattures remain to this day.

In 1986 BHT entered into a Union Recognition Agreement with NALGO (now UNISON) as the recognised union. The Central Administration and Housing Association teams moved from 10 Ditchling Rise to 70 Grand Parade. The Housing Association was commissioned to develop its first “new build” scheme in Evelyn Terrace. Before this, all Housing Association properties had been refurbishments.

First Base Centre was seriously damaged by fire in February 1987 and moved to temporary accommodation for 6 months while the Centre was completely refurbished. The Soup Run was handed over to volunteers from a number of churches.

1988 saw the opening of the Resettlement Project with money provided to purchase 3 houses as part of the Resettlement Unit Replacement Scheme. The new Housing Act changed the terms of tenancy for new BHT tenants to Assured Tenancies and gave BHT the responsibility for setting its own rent levels for these. There were now 28 members of staff.

In 1989 BHT was invited to open a care home for people being discharged from the St. Francis Psychiatric Hospital, which was being closed. 9 Portland Road became home for 9 residents. The Hostels Project developed into the Recovery Project and the Dorset Gardens Mental Health Project, with 3 houses each.

In 1990 BHT opened its first service outside Brighton and Hove with the opening of the Eastbourne Housing Aid Centre. A post of Deputy Director was created (Renata Gussone) and Solicitors were introduced at the Housing Advice Centre.

The 1991 Census showed Brighton as having the highest percentage of people sleeping rough in the country. The 9 Housing Advice Centre staff moved to new premises at 130A Western Road. Belle Vue Gardens, part of the Dorset Gardens Project, became a women only house.

Mental health services wwere further developed in 1992 with the opening of of 57 Sackville Gardens as part of the Care in the Community Project. The multi-disciplinary Mental Health Project for Homeless People began with the appointment of an Approved Social Worker. BHT was chosen by the Mayor of Brighton (Cllr Gill Sweeting) as Charity of the Year. The Brighton Housing Partnership was established with BHT as an active founding partner. The first multi-landlord development under the Brighton Housing Partnership was completed. It included flats owned and managed by BHT.

In 1993 the Health Authority built a treatment room in First Base Day Centre and a Nurse and GP began holding regular sessions there. By this year the Housing Association had 192 units of permanent accommodation. It also introduced floating support for particularly vulnerable BHT tenants by appointing its first Housing Support Worker. BHT moved to its new head offices at 144 London Road. There were now 66 members of staff.

In 1994 the Housing Advice and Legal Centre saw its 20,000th new client since opening in 1981. The 70 page guide “Solving Leasehold Disputes” was launched. An Outreach Support Worker (Substance Misuse) post was created in Eastbourne. The Eastbourne Housing Aid and Legal Centre moved into new premises in the Eastbourne Community Advice Centre. BHT’s largest ever development – 57 houses in Lynchett Close – was completed. All houses were built to the “Lifetime Homes” standard.

Brighton Borough Council awarded Brighton HALC the contract for immigration/employment legal services. BHT gained approval as an Agency for Practice Learning from the Central Council for Education and Training in Social Work and continued to offer social work practice placements in 4 of its projects.

In 1996 the Housing Support team started to provide housing support services to tenants from other housing associations.
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<p><b>1997</b></p>
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