Crawley Open House launches appeal for food

The charity, which has for years supported people suffering the effects of homelessness, unemployment, loneliness, discrimination and social exclusion, took to social media to ask for help.

A message on Twitter read: “These are tough times, particularly for the most vulnerable in our community.

“We are running out of items, if you can help in any way, you can drop off items without contact.”

The charity needs tinned meat, vegetables, fruit and fish, and cooking sauces, which can all be safely dropped at the hostel in Stephenson Way, Three Bridges.

Open House has been working with Crawley Borough Council during the current crisis, to protect people who have been sleeping rough in the town centre.

During a question and answer session on Twitter, leader Peter Lamb said overflow shelter accommodation had been set up and there was a place for anyone who was living on the streets.

Mr Lamb said the council would requisition hotel rooms if necessary to make sure everyone was safe.

He added: “In the past three days we’ve placed an extra 52 people into temporary accommodation.”

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