Sunday Brunch featured soundbites from the above ‘Sussex & Surrey Soapbox’ podcast episode…. to skip chapters click on the 3 horizontal lines (left in the above player). Have your say via WhatsApp (bottom right) or join the conversation in our Facebook Group HERE.
In this first episode of two parts, we sit down with special guests Michelle Harfield, Turning Tides and Ian Wilkins, Crawley Open House for a candid, eye-opening conversation about the real causes of homelessness across the SUSY area — and why the story we often hear barely scratches the surface. In the next episode we will tackle escaping homelessness and the services provided by Turning Tides and Crawley Open House.
Together, we challenge common assumptions, moving beyond the narrow image of rough sleeping to uncover a far more complex reality. From the quiet instability of unsafe housing to the long, uncertain stretches in temporary accommodation and hostels, we trace the real pathways into homelessness — shaped by childhood experiences, trauma, sudden financial shocks, and a cascade of life events that rarely happen in isolation.
We explore:
- your 500 comments in 48hrs to our blunt Facebook post across a number of local groups ‘Why are so many homeless in this town?’
- why “homelessness” extends far beyond life on the streets
- how it’s rarely a single cause, but a compounding series of setbacks
- the often-hidden role of childhood trauma and adverse experiences
- addiction as both a coping mechanism and a consequence — not a simple cause
- how Crawley Open House maintains clear boundaries to keep residents safe
- how Turning Tides uses harm minimisation to reduce risk and support recovery
- the scale of hidden homelessness in Crawley — and why “temporary” housing can last for years
- the impact of evictions, the Renters’ Rights Act, and the shift from Section 21 to Section 8
- why early support — from families to children’s mental health services — is key to long-term prevention
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Roundtable Featuring: Special Guests – Michelle Harfield (Turning Tides), Ian Wilkins (Crawley Open House), Iqbal Khan, Aga Es, Maureen Jones & Micaela Leal Host: Clive Hilton.