A VITAL hub of help for those facing homelessness in the city is set to be lost as the Crisis charity confirmed it will be closing its Coventry Skylight Centre on November 24.
Charity chiefs said the difficult decision was made due to rising costs, skyrocketing demand and reduced income.
The charity said it would be using the coming weeks to ‘safely’ close the service and connect those at risk of homelessness with other hubs of help.
It announced its intention to carry out an organisation-wide restructuring in July, which would involve redundancies and a reduction of services in some areas.
The Skylight Centre at James Brindley House near the Coventry Canal Basin was one of two national centres earmarked for closure by the charity.
A consultation on the changes was conducted with staff.
The Charity said two of the 19 staff at risk of redundancy had been redeployed within the organisation and it hoped to limit the number of job cuts wherever possible.
The Skylight Centre helps those sleeping rough find a rented home, find and apply for jobs and improve their mental well-being through activities such as museum visits and walks.
Charity chief executive Matt Downie said the changes were to ensure Crisis remains financially sustainable in the long term.
He added: “This decision was made against the backdrop of increasingly challenging economic conditions.
“Like many in the charity sector our costs are up, and our income is down, at a time when demand for our services is higher than it has ever been.
“The majority of our work at Crisis is funded by generous donations from the public and we receive very little government money.
“With so many households feeling the pressure of rising living costs and high inflation, fewer people are able to support us and those who still can are donating less on average.
“Crisis exists to end homelessness and this is a position we hoped never to find ourselves in.”
