Rural homelessness is often invisible and fundamentally different from homelessness in towns where help is more concentrated. In rural West Sussex, people are spread across vast areas, living in tents hidden in woodland, cars parked in lay‑bys and other isolated locations. Limited public transport and long distances between services make people extremely hard to support. Poor phone signal, lack of internet access and limited transport mean people may struggle to contact the council or attend appointments.
Despite these barriers, rural homelessness services provided by Turning Tides are making a real difference. Turning Tides is a charity dedicated to ending homelessness in West Sussex. Founded in 1991, it’s grown from a small group of kind-hearted Christians to the largest homelessness charity in the county. Their Mid-Sussex outreach team supported 118 people experiencing homelessness last year with food, supplies, housing advice and more, with 47 of those moved into secure accommodation.
The Move On Housing North teams operate across the rural north of West Sussex, with homes in Storrington, Horsham, Burgess Hill and East Grinstead. Across six properties, we provide safe accommodation for 35 residents. Move On Housing provides a vital stepping stone towards a ‘forever home’. Residents gain experience of managing their own home while benefiting from the reassurance of a key worker and a supportive community. Demand is high, reflecting the urgent need for this service in areas where social housing and affordable private rentals are scarce. Even in this difficult housing market, Turning Tides supported 13 residents to move into their own independent homes last year.
Read Read Obert’s story on the Turning Tides website. Obert is a past Turning Tides client from Horsham, who lost his home following his long-term illness and divorce. Following support, Obert is now in his own accommodation.
For more information about Turning Tides and to sign up for the newletter, please visit www.turning-tides.org.uk.
Article reproduced from Turning Tide’s May 2026 newsletter.
