Off the Fence new homeless project


Mobile hygiene van

Off The Fence are delighted to launch their two mobile vans in Brighton & Hove to ensure the homeless community always have access to their most basic need – hygiene. The Hygiene Van will access more clients than our teams on foot, enable emergency care on the streets and provide signposting to local services relevant to those sleeping rough on the streets. The van will supply essentials such as sleeping bags, hot drinks, heavy duty clothing, hats, scarves, socks, gloves, underwear, toothpaste and brushes, soap, shaving cream and razors, antiperspirant, suntan cream, and feminine hygiene products.

Mobile laundry van

The second van is a Mobile Laundry Van, which offers homeless individuals an opportunity to look and feel better, essentially enabling them to live healthier lives and prevent exclusion from the community. Laundry is limited to 1-2 pairs of pants, about 3 t-shirts, sweatshirts/jumpers and socks. Each client is given a mesh bag to place their belongings inside and may fill only halfway to allow proper movement inside the bags for washing and drying inside the machines. Spare clothes will be carried in the van.

Large problem for homeless population

The mobile units came about after the 2017 survey of rough sleepers and third sector agencies that all agreed after housing, hygiene was the largest problem facing the homeless population. Most of us are fortunate enough to experience regular clean clothes. However, not everyone is as fortunate, and for those living without a fixed address or on the street, maintaining even basic standards of personal hygiene can be next to impossible.

Off The Fence is a Hove-based charity working with the homeless for the last 20 years.  These vans will complement the existing work of Antifreeze which offers support to homeless individuals through a day centre and evening outreach service.

 Want to know more?

Visit the Off the Fence website where you can find out more about their work.

Comments about this page

  • Great project! It will make such a difference.

    By Douglas d'Enno (30/11/2017)
  • Well done everyone. Wish I lived close enough to donate some clothing.

    By Sandra Bohtlingk (30/11/2017)

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