Kendal Homeless Charity Launches Urgent Appeal As Running Costs Rise
A Kendal charity supporting people experiencing homelessness has launched an urgent appeal for community funding as rising demand and increasing running costs put further pressure on its services.
Manna House, based at the Stephenson Centre, is preparing to launch its Keep the Door Open fundraising campaign in October, with the appeal aimed at highlighting the growing pressures caused by insecure housing and poverty across South Lakeland. The charity said its financial position has become increasingly difficult following a 38 per cent reduction in confirmed funding.
The organisation has reported a significant rise in the number of people seeking help. During July, 33 people presented to Manna House as homeless, while its emergency pod was used every night throughout the month, highlighting the level of immediate need facing the charity and those it supports.
The figures represent a substantial increase compared with previous years. Manna House recorded six people presenting as homeless during July a decade ago, while there were five such presentations in June six years ago and eight in July three years ago, showing how demand has grown over time.
At the same time, the cost of keeping the charity operating has increased. Manna House said it now costs around £1,331 for every day it opens, while its projected annual running costs have risen to £348,480, compared with £323,661 during the previous year.
The financial pressure has already affected staffing. For the first time in 15 years, Manna House is having to reduce staff hours, a move which the charity said will result in reduced services and fewer people being able to receive support when they need it.
Despite the financial challenges, the charity continues to provide a wide range of practical assistance. Each year it serves more than 7,000 free lunches, carries out over 700 housing and benefits appointments and provides more than 1,000 individual support sessions to people facing difficult circumstances.
Chief officer Andrea Aldridge said the charity regularly sees how quickly circumstances can deteriorate when someone has no secure accommodation, limited money for food, nowhere to wash clothes and difficulty keeping appointments or accessing wider support. She said the increasing level of need was particularly concerning because the resources available to respond to it were becoming smaller.
Ms Aldridge said reducing staff hours was particularly difficult because it could mean longer waiting times, greater pressure on existing services and more people reaching a crisis point before assistance becomes available. She said the Keep the Door Open campaign was intended to encourage the wider community to support the organisation rather than suggesting that local people should solve homelessness themselves.
The campaign will include a number of fundraising events during October. Planned activities include an open house, an art exhibition and sale, a jazz and hotpot evening, as well as a fundraising walk led by Tim Farron, MP for Westmorland and Lonsdale.
People are being encouraged to support the appeal in a number of ways, including making a one off donation, becoming a regular giver, nominating Manna House as a corporate charity of the year or providing practical assistance to the organisation.
Local businesses are also being asked to get involved, with opportunities including match funding, staff fundraising, sponsorship and workplace giving. The charity hopes support from companies and other organisations will help provide additional financial stability while demand for its services continues to increase.
Mr Farron said Manna House provides social value beyond the services delivered from its premises, helping people meet immediate needs, stabilise their circumstances and avoid some of the wider consequences associated with homelessness, poverty and isolation.
He said the absence of Manna House would have consequences across the wider community, including increased pressure on emergency and public services, greater isolation and more people being left in unsafe situations.
Ms Aldridge said the charity was extremely grateful to its existing supporters but needed more individuals, businesses, funders and organisations to come forward. She said the October campaign was intended not only to help keep the doors open, but also to demonstrate the type of community South Lakeland wants to be.
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