From a Building to a New Beginning: £100,000 for Folkestone Rainbow Centre
An 18-bed former guest house in Folkestone is being transformed into something much more important: a safe place for people experiencing homelessness to begin rebuilding their lives.
The Kent Reliance Community Foundation is providing a £100,000 grant to the Folkestone Rainbow Centre to help create new year-round emergency and supported accommodation for vulnerable adults in the Folkestone and Hythe District.
Established in 1985, Folkestone Rainbow Centre supports individuals and families facing poverty, homelessness and other forms of hardship.
Its services include housing advice and advocacy through its Homeless Support Service, an emergency winter night shelter, FoodStop mobile soup kitchen and Foodbank and Pantry services, advice and guidance to people in financial difficulties, and supported contact sessions for separated families.
Our £100,000 grant will directly support the transformation of the former guest house into a 17-bed House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) providing year-round emergency and supported accommodation for adults under 60, including people fleeing domestic abuse.
Funding will contribute towards refurbishment and furnishing to meet HMO standards, alongside the recruitment of trained Support Workers and a live-in concierge providing 24-hour support.
Once operational, the project plans to provide tailored one-to-one support for up to 24 adults each year.
The ambition goes far beyond providing somewhere to sleep. Residents will receive wrap-around support to address complex challenges and help them access education or employment and progress towards independent living.
Jonathan Couch, Head of Grants, said: "This is exactly the kind of project where charitable funding can create something tangible and enduring. Our £100,000 grant is helping turn a building into a safe home, but the real impact will come from what happens inside it, giving people stability, support and the opportunity to take the next steps towards independence. We are delighted to help Folkestone Rainbow Centre create a resource that can support vulnerable people in the local community for years to come."
By investing in both accommodation and the support surrounding it, the project will help protect vulnerable adults from the dangers of street homelessness whilst providing a pathway towards greater stability, dignity and independence.
For more information about the Folkestone Rainbow Centre and its work, visit www.rainbow-centre.org.