In the middle of May 2016 Essex County Council will vote on a proposal to cut support funding for homeless & vulnerable young people within the community. The cuts, of £1million will consequently lead to a loss of around 300-350 beds being provided by the foyers & hostels for homeless young adults within Essex.

Harlow foyer is already scheduled to close at the end of September, resulting in 100 vulnerable people being made homeless. Services such as Braintree Foyer are at serious risk of closing. Whilst I have not personally lived at the foyer, I have nothing but empathy & understanding for its residents. And a complete respect for the service it provides the local community.

Braintree Foyer has provided a safe, stable environment for people aged 16-25 who have been homeless, abused, sofa surfed & faced extreme difficulty with parent(s)/their spouses. Having spoken to some of the residents about their history, the result of this proposed cut could place several hundred young people a year in danger.

Many of the residents have faced the difficulty of sleeping rough, some do not have a home to go to due to parental issues -- the prospect of them having to move back home is a risk to their wellbeing. When you are in this environment you see no way out, & this consequently has an effect on their mental & physical health. Many residents are currently in recovery after facing abuse, sexual exploitation & involvement within gangs which has triggered mental health issues such as depression & anxiety.

The foyer offers the support network, advice & safe haven they need. Many residents have described the Foyer as 'a lifeline', residing there has improved their life, helped them gain skills, get back to into education & into the working world. One resident is now a qualified Gym Instructor thanks to the services provided by the Foyer.

Over the years Braintree Foyer has flourished into a place of opportunity, providing young people (both residents & within the community) to participate in services such as:

• Braintree Sound Academy
• Braintree Discovery College

I feel that the potential threat of the loss of these services, along with the threat of several hundred young people in the community being homeless is an issue that needs to be addressed & supported. The services provided by Braintree Foyer to its residents are exceptional, & also brings together the community with Sound Academy & The Discovery College being key elements in bringing people together to learn a craft.

We believe that all young people who experience homelessness need support and call on Essex County Council to invest in young people & not cut support funding for young people who have experienced homelessness. I hope I have your support & signature to save the Foyer for future generations to come.

We must protect the children of today, for they are the adults of tomorrow.