Root Causes of Poverty in Brighton and Hove and Why Short-Term Aid is Not Enough
Whether you’ve been part of the Off The Fence journey from the very beginning – when Paul and Wendy Young stepped out, evening after evening, to support people sleeping rough – or this is the first time you’ve come across our name, we want to say hello.
We’re really glad you’re here.
For nearly 30 years, Off The Fence has been a poverty‑tackling charity rooted in the heart of Brighton & Hove. While the city has changed and our work has evolved, our heart and purpose have not: to walk alongside people experiencing social and spiritual poverty, seeing lives transformed through empowerment and restored hope.
In our early years, much of our work focused on responding to urgent needs. We met people where they were, offering practical support in moments of crisis - food, warmth, a listening ear, and dignity when it was most lacking. Over time, however, we began to see both the opportunity and the necessity to dig deeper.
We started asking ourselves some important questions:
What are the root causes of poverty in Brighton & Hove?
How can we help prevent people from reaching crisis point in the first place?
What does lasting, meaningful change actually look like for individuals and communities in our city?
Those questions have shaped the journey we’re on today – a journey that looks beyond emergency response towards long‑term, holistic support that tackles poverty at its foundations.
Through our work with people from all walks of life – including those experiencing homelessness, women facing vulnerability, and young people at risk – we’re reminded daily that poverty is complex.
It isn’t just about money.
We see poverty show up in many forms, including:
Food poverty
Fuel poverty
Relative poverty
Digital poverty
Each of these brings its own set of vulnerabilities, affecting not only finances but also the mind, body, and soul. Loneliness, isolation, low confidence, trauma, and a lack of opportunity often sit quietly alongside empty cupboards or cold homes.
So, why isn’t short-term aid the solution?
Providing immediate support is, and always will be, a vital part of what we do. Meals, sleeping bags, clothing, and long‑life food can make a real and life‑preserving difference in moments of crisis.
But over the years, we’ve learned that short‑term aid on its own doesn’t address many of the deeper challenges people are facing, such as:
Mental health struggles and unresolved trauma
Ongoing physical health needs
How someone sees themselves and others
Motivation, confidence, and hope for the future
Barriers to accessing information, services, and opportunities
Without addressing these underlying issues, people are often left vulnerable to falling back into crisis again and again.
Off The Fence’s 10-Year Strategy
In 2024, Off The Fence launched a new 10‑year strategy built around three key commitments, one of which is targeting causes, not just symptoms.
Is this bold? Yes.
Is it necessary? Absolutely.
Research by Homeless Link (2024) shows that when holistic models of care, in this case Housing First, are applied, people are far more likely to sustain tenancies, experience improved mental and physical health, reduce substance misuse, and find meaningful ways to use their time. In fact, two‑thirds of participants in the study sustained their tenancies over three years, alongside improvements in financial literacy and home care.
When support goes beyond meeting immediate need, and instead offers housing, stability, and joined‑up care, the cycle of crisis is far less likely to repeat. We see this observation time and time again. One woman recently shared how consistent Gateway support has been key to rebuilding her confidence step by step. With practical help and community referrals, she has now reached a point where she no longer needs our support and has chosen to join an informal local group that offers connection and accountability.
Looking back to where she began, this moment reflects how far she has come, where attending a new group would’ve felt impossible. With the tools and relationships formed through the Gateway Women’s Centre, she is now rooted in a healthy community and moving forward independently. She leaves not alone, but equipped and ready to thrive beyond our services.
Barriers to Long-term Solutions
The challenge of long‑term solutions is right there in the name: they take time.
Walking alongside someone as they rebuild their life requires trust, mutual respect, and patience. It means journeying with individuals as they work through challenges with the support of key workers, reconnect with their community, and begin to build networks of support beyond our services.
Every journey looks different. Like all of our own stories, progress often comes through trial and error, trying something new, discovering what works, and learning from what doesn’t.
There are no shortcuts. But there is hope.
As we continue pressing forward with our 10‑year strategy, we want to invite you to be part of the journey.
Whether through prayer, giving your time, or sharing resources, your support helps us move closer to a city where people are not just surviving crises, but thriving beyond them.
Together, we can see more long‑term, poverty‑tackling solutions take root across Brighton & Hove – and more lives transformed along the way.