A charity dedicated to helping those without permanent housing has begun a community fundraising effort.
Turning Tides assists individuals experiencing rooflessness throughout Worthing and the surrounding West Sussex region. The organisation has introduced its Elephant in the Room campaign, which seeks to combat public apathy toward homelessness and provoke meaningful dialogue.
The initiative aims to boost both visibility and financial support through verse, online seminars, student-created artwork and a public auction of sculptures.
Niall Read, operations manager at Turning Tides, expressed concern about the marginalisation experienced by some of society’s most vulnerable members. He described homelessness as placing people on the wrong side, excluded from what others possess yet unable to access it themselves. He emphasised that by reaching out, making connections and recognising those forced to sleep outdoors, everyone can help build bridges and bring individuals back into society where they can feel appreciated and make positive changes.
West Sussex poet Liz Verlander has composed a piece as part of the campaign, which can now be watched on YouTube.
Learners from Northbrook College participating in the Future You programme are contributing through a creative project that involves designing and photographing an elephant sculpture at various locations throughout Worthing. They are also arranging a cake sale to generate additional money.
The organisation will be selling an elephant sculpture created by Eduardo Paolozzi at the Henry Adams auction house in Chichester on March 26 to gather extra contributions.
The charity likens homelessness to an elephant in the room, noting it is an issue people encounter regularly yet rarely address openly. The group questions why the sight of someone sleeping rough no longer provokes the shock it once did.
Turning Tides is calling on local residents, companies and groups to confront homelessness directly, discuss its true nature candidly and work toward reducing associated stigma.
The charity cautions that anyone can become homeless due to factors such as partnership endings, death of loved ones, mental health emergencies, unemployment or escalating living expenses. Wider societal problems including vacant properties, shortage of reasonably-priced homes and long-term declines in council housing availability are exacerbating the situation.
Through increasing public understanding and securing monetary contributions, the campaign intends to fund continuing programmes so that more individuals in West Sussex can have secure accommodation.