The 999 Club And Lady Florence Trust

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The 999 Club is quite simply about offering comfort, respite, advice and guidance to the most isolated, excluded and lonely people in society. Our 5,800 users face a multiplicity of problems which can be any combination of being homeless, addicted, mentally-ill, an ex-offender, victims of crime and abuse, or elderly and the neglected and vulnerable children of our users. We operate 2 centres in 2 of the 4 most deprived neighbourhoods in the London Borough of Lewisham, namely Deptford and Downham. Lewisham is itself in the top 16% of most deprived boroughs in England. Our centres provide day time respite from life on the streets to the homeless. They are fed, given clothing and provided with a laundry service. Where possible we try to find accommodation in hostels and night shelters and assist in finding more permanent housing. We help them access benefits such as deposit schemes and, once they have a home, housing benefit. For our rough sleepers we provide sleeping bags and, if we cannot find them shelter, advice on the safest places to sleep. We open a temporary night shelter every winter with beds for up to 25 people.