The Welcome Centre recently released its Annual Report, looking back at one of the most challenging seasons to date.
The report, a look at some of the stories and statistics from the Rapid Re-accommodation Welcome Centre’s 2023/24 season, expresses Bethany’s heart to serve people who are homeless.
The housing crisis was keenly felt in the Welcome Centre over the whole season. A few weeks before the Welcome Centre opened its doors on the 4th October 2023, Bethany Christian Trust supported other long-standing partners to conduct a rough sleeper count in and around Edinburgh. On that night, 80 people were found rough sleeping in Edinburgh. A list of individuals known to services who were found to be rough sleeping that night was brought together and shared amongst Edinburgh’s homelessness services.
The Welcome Centre opened its doors and immediately started taking in individuals who had been sleeping rough on the streets of Edinburgh. Nearly 80% of those eligible for accommodation who were rough sleeping were accommodated at the Welcome Centre in the first fortnight of being open, making a direct impact on the number of people sleeping rough.
Once an individual signed in to the Welcome Centre, they were shown to their own warm room with a big, comfy bed and ensuite bathroom. Guests had access to 3 meals a day, 24/7 care and over 40 partner agencies providing tailored support.
With those already high numbers of people sleeping rough, the Welcome Centre reached capacity within 48 hours of opening its doors. On 2nd November, councillors in Edinburgh overwhelmingly voted to declare a Housing Emergency to recognise and address the scale of Edinburgh’s housing crisis
Thanks to the support and partnership of everyone involved, the Welcome Centre was able to accommodate 787 individuals over the course of the season.
The Welcome Centre is only made possible thanks to the City of Edinburgh Council and the Scottish Government providing essential financial support along with advocating for the Welcome Centre itself.
Thank you to the Scottish Government who provided a grant for staffing costs and breakfasts. Thank you to the City of Edinburgh Council who paid for the room hire and security at the Haymarket Hub Hotel and provided a grant for staffing costs. These major stakeholders are crucial to the successful Welcome Centre model and we want to extend our heartfelt thanks for the support.
Thank you to each partner, volunteer and the Haymarket Hub Hotel.
Thank you also to each individual supporter who got behind our ‘Buy a Bed’ appeal, gave during our match-funded Big Give challenge week, and donated sleeping bags and food. Without the support of all involved, this life-saving service would not be possible.
Next month, the Welcome Centre will reopen its doors for the 2024/25 winter season. This is one of the toughest times of the year for those sleeping rough and we are dedicated once more to relieving the suffering and meeting the long-term needs of people who are homeless.
Please join us this Winter as we seek to fulfil our vision of ending homelessness in Scotland, one person at at time.