Youngsters "run riot"at hostel for the homeless

Complaints have been made to Sussex Police and Rother District Council accusing young people staying at Sanctuary Supported Housing of anti-social behaviour.

On one night alone around 15 calls were made to Sussex Police by residents angered by noise and late night drinking outside the Stepping Stones building.

Mrs D Abbott, of London Road, is demanding: "Wake up Rother District Council, and either control this place or close it down once and for all."

She commented: "Yet again the homeless hostel (none of the kids in there ever were homeless by the way) in London Road is portraying what a complete waste of tax payers' money it is, with the so-called staff there having no control whatsoever over the youngsters that live there."

She claimed a recent all-day drinking session had been held at the halfway house attached to the premises and resulted in a teenage girl collapsing in the street and taken away in an ambulance.

She added: "One day it will not surprise me if a child dies or suffers serious injury as a result of the complete lack of control at this establishment.

"It is of no surprise, also, to know it comes under the auspices of our local council, which does nothing but sing its praises whilst having no idea at all about what goes on there in its name."

Resident Mrs Swain described the hostel as "a haven not for homeless people but a dumping ground for the town's youth that cannot behave".

She said: "Over recent nights the police have been called to disturbances involving these youths and their numerous hangers-on... the elderly neighbours have their lives ruined by these yobs yet RDC which oversees it and the 'charity' that supposedly runs the place '“ neither have any concern for these elderly victims. How outrageous."

Inspector James Scott of Bexhill station confirmed that there had been complaints recently about the hostel, which has been in 181 London Road for 10 years, and said: "We are working with Sanctuary Housing management in order to resolve all ongoing issues."

Sgt Trish Reeve-Fowkes, also of the Neighbourhood Police team, said the youngsters congregated in the garden in front of the building rather than in the street.

The manager of the scheme, Cathy Wilson, has appealed to residents with complaints to make them directly to her rather than go straight to the police or the council.

She told the Observer that a young man staying in one of the move-on flats has now signed an Acceptable Behaviour contract having created problems by having visitors and guests who caused nuisance.

She added that youngsters from the local area tended to congregate on the recreation ground opposite and were drawn over by roadworks on London Road which they then started to mess around with, and claimed that the youngsters gathered outside the hostel were not all residents.

Cathy said: "At Stepping Stones we provide accommodation and support for vulnerable 16 to 25-year-olds who have experienced homelessness.

"We help our residents to turn their lives around and make the most of educational and employment opportunities, so they can achieve their goals and live independently as valued members of the community.

"Our staff are on-site 24 hours a day to support our residents and ensure they act appropriately.

"However, there have been some isolated incidents of noise disturbance and we have written to our neighbours to apologise and reassure them that we are dealing with the individual involved.

"The scheme does some very positive work and it would be unfair to link other local cases of antisocial behaviour with our young residents.

"We are committed to maintaining good relations with our neighbours and would be happy to talk to them directly and reassure them over any concerns they may have."

RDC head of housing Anne Fennessy said: "The current Stepping Stones project has been in use for some years, since its opening there have been initial ups and downs but the project has been well managed and provides a useful alternative to B&B accommodation for local young homeless customers.

"This project has been successful in ensuring that many young people have been supported to lead independent productive lives. It provides a home and support for local young people referred by the council who would otherwise be homeless.

"We understand the concerns of residents who contacted both the council and Sussex Police with complaints about anti-social behaviour and we are working with Sanctuary Supported Housing to ensure that anti-social behaviour is responded to and resolved.

"We are satisfied that the young person responsible has been identified and has signed an acceptable behaviour contract which will put their accommodation at risk should there be anymore incidents of this nature.

"The project manager has taken the step of writing to residents apologising for the disturbances and is willing to speak to residents who have any complaints or questions."