BHT Sussex

What BHT Sussex does

BHT Sussex is a registered charity (No. 284839) and housing association (Regulator for Social Housing No. H1696) founded in 1968 and headquartered at 144 London Road, Brighton. The organisation delivers an integrated portfolio of social services spanning homelessness prevention, supported housing, mental health, addiction recovery, specialist legal advice, and employment support across Sussex — including Brighton & Hove, Eastbourne, Hastings, Burgess Hill, Haywards Heath, Crawley, and Hove. Its service portfolio includes high-support accommodation (Phase One 52-bed hostel, Route One 60 placements, Shore House 20 placements, Archway, Mental Health Recovery at Oak House and Leylands Road), open-access day centres (First Base, operating 40+ years), community mental health services (Pathfinder West Sussex, Be OK, Emotional Wellbeing), addiction services (Detox Support, Recovery Project, Move On), and Legal Aid immigration services. According to its 2024-2026 Strategic Plan, BHT Sussex supports more than 10,000 people annually with a workforce of over 250 staff.

The organisation's service model is built on integrated client pathways across its own services, with psychologically informed environments, CQC-rated accommodation (two Outstanding, two Good), and ISO 9001 (2015) quality certification. Service delivery is underpinned by formal referral pathways through Sussex Partnership Foundation Trust, Change Grow Live (CGL), local authority housing panels, and self-referral/open-access routes. It is the lead provider of the Pathfinder West Sussex alliance (launched December 2025) with West Sussex Mind, Capital, Southdown, Crawley Open House, Turning Tides, and Stonepillow, delivering NHS Sussex-commissioned community mental health services. Unlike a technology platform, BHT Sussex provides no proprietary technology; its core "technology" is operational infrastructure — supported housing stock, day centre facilities, qualified staff, and audited care pathways.

The business model is funded through a diversified mix of government contracts (NHS Sussex, Brighton & Hove City Council, East Sussex County Council, Mid Sussex District Council), grant funding (National Lottery Community Fund, Sussex Community Foundation), and charitable income (one-off and monthly donations, legacies, fundraising events, corporate partnerships). Service users do not pay for services; donor acquisition is supported through website, social media (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn), newsletters, and community fundraising. The Homes for Ukraine Sustainment Service contract ended on 31 March 2026, and East Sussex Floating Support faced a funding reduction from October 2025, partially offsetting the new Pathfinder West Sussex revenue. Governance is provided by a Board of Trustees chaired by Jon Rosser, with executive leadership under CEO David Chaffey (appointed 2023).

Name

BHT Sussex

Legal name

BHT Sussex

Website

https://bht.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1974

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

BHT Sussex is a registered charity and housing association founded in 1968, delivering integrated homelessness, mental health, addiction, and specialist advice services to over 10,000 vulnerable people annually across Sussex, UK, through government contracts and charitable income.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Social Services — Housing, Homelessness and Mental Health

NAICS

Temporary Shelters (624221), Other Community Housing Services (624229), Community Housing Services (62422), Emergency and Other Relief Services (624230), Individual and Family Services (6241)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro primary industry

Housing Assistance & Homeless Services (BPAGAEAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Affordable Housing & Community Development (Housing, Community Land Trusts) (BPAGALAC), Homelessness Prevention, Shelter & Supportive Housing Services (BPAIANAC), Protection Services (GBV, Child Protection, Safeguarding) (BPADAHAF)

Keywords

• Homelessness support services
• Supported housing
• Mental health services
• Addiction recovery services
• Housing advice

Headquarters

HQ city

Brighton

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Charitable Donations: BHT Sussex relies on donations from the local community to provide vital services. Donations can be one-off or recurring monthly gifts via direct debit or standing order.
2. Government Contracts and Commissioning: Services are commissioned by NHS Sussex, Brighton & Hove City Council, East Sussex County Council, and other local authorities. This includes mental health services, homelessness services, and supported housing.
3. Legacies and Bequests: BHT Sussex encourages supporters to leave legacy gifts in their wills to ensure lasting impact.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

BHT Sussex is a housing association and homeless charity that delivers integrated social services across Sussex, including supported housing and hostels, community mental health services, addiction recovery programmes, homelessness prevention, employment support, and free specialist legal advice on housing, benefits, and immigration. Services are commissioned by NHS Sussex and local authorities and are delivered free of charge to vulnerable adults and young people experiencing homelessness, mental ill-health, addiction, or insecure housing.

Product overview

BHT Sussex is a housing association and homeless charity providing a comprehensive portfolio of integrated social services across Sussex. The organisation operates as a unified service delivery model encompassing six main areas: Homelessness and Prevention (including East Sussex Floating Support, First Base Day Centre, Phase One hostel, and Hastings Young Peoples Service), Work/Learning/Employment (Accommodation for Work, Work Placement Programme, SPARC), Mental Health and Wellbeing (Pathfinder West Sussex, Archway, Mid Sussex Supported Housing, Mental Health Recovery, Be OK, Route One, Shore House), Addiction Services (Detox Support, Recovery Project, Move On), Housing/Benefits/Immigration Advice, and Housing Services. These services work together to provide a continuum of care from crisis intervention through to independent living, with clients often moving between services as their needs evolve.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• East Sussex Floating Support Service Short-term housing-related floating support across East Sussex for vulnerable people aged 16+ who require support to live independently, including preventing homelessness, managing a tenancy, money management and accessing healthcare.
• First Base Day Centre Open-access day centre in Brighton providing essential facilities, case worker support, hot meals, showers, lockers, laundry, health clinics, and accommodation referrals for anyone rough sleeping in Brighton and Hove.
• Phase One A 52-bed high-support hostel in Brighton for single homeless people with complex support needs, offering a client-centred psychologically informed model with an internal recovery-focused accommodation pathway.
• Hastings Young Peoples Service Supported housing project in Hastings for homeless and vulnerable young people aged 16-25, offering skills development in cooking, hygiene, money management, and engagement in education, employment or training.
• Archway 24-hour residential mental health care service across three properties in Hove for adults with mental health care and support needs, including 9 Portland Road (9 units), 59 Sackville Gardens (5 units), and 57 Sackville Gardens Step-Down (5 units); rated Outstanding by CQC.
• Mid Sussex Supported Housing Supported temporary accommodation service in Burgess Hill and Haywards Heath for vulnerable adults facing homelessness, delivering support to 55 clients with up to 6-month placements.
• Mental Health Recovery Recovery-focused residential services in Mid Sussex at Oak House (up to 14 people with 2-5 year placements) and Leylands Road (6-bed home for adults with enduring mental health needs); both rated Good by CQC.
• Pathfinder West Sussex Community mental health support service launched 1 December 2025, led by BHT Sussex in partnership with West Sussex Mind and other organisations, commissioned by NHS Sussex as part of the West Sussex Neighbourhood Mental Health Team; received recognition from the High Sheriff of West Sussex.
• Be OK Free mental health service for young people aged 16-18 in Crawley, Horsham and Mid Sussex, offering confidential support promoting independence and building resilience; 977 people helped through Pathfinder and Be OK services.
• Route One Supported accommodation for 60 adults with mental health support needs in Brighton and Hove, providing flexible one-to-one support across three properties, with the aim of moving clients to independent living within 2 years.
• Shore House Accommodation with 24-hour intensive support for 20 people with mental health diagnoses and complex trauma, situated on Brighton seafront, part of the Mental Health Accommodation Pathway.
• Detox Support Safe accommodation with an 8-12 week medically supervised drug detox programme to achieve abstinence, providing recovery skills and preparation for transition to the Recovery Project; rated Outstanding by CQC in May 2019.
• Recovery Project Safe housing with rehabilitation programme supporting clients to achieve healthy independent living free from alcohol and drugs, preparing residents for the Move On stage of recovery; rated Good by CQC.
• Move On Safe and supported move-on accommodation for people who have completed rehabilitation or have recovery experience, requiring abstinence and engagement in education, training or employment.
• Accommodation for Work Project providing temporary shared accommodation and employment support for homeless adults aged 18-65 with a local connection to Brighton and Hove; funded by the National Lottery Community Fund and operating for over a decade.
• Work Placement Programme Short workplace opportunities supporting people in homeless supported accommodation to gain practical workplace experience, including pre-placement training and follow-up support.
• SPARC Programme Supported Placements to Achieve and Rally Change — 3-to-6-month voluntary work placements within BHT Sussex services for clients and tenants with experience of insecure housing or homelessness; funded by the Brighton & Hove Homelessness Fund via Sussex Community Foundation.
• Housing, Benefits and Immigration Advice Services Specialist advice services across Brighton, Eastbourne and Hastings including housing advice, benefits guidance, and immigration legal services; BHT Sussex is one of the only Legal Aid providers in the South East, preventing hundreds of families from becoming homeless annually.

Quantifiable outcome

• 977 people helped through Pathfinder and Be OK mental health services; 774 people through Emotional Wellbeing Service
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles7 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Pathfinder West Sussex AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2025BHT Sussex is the lead provider of Pathfinder West Sussex service, working in partnership with West Sussex Mind. This new community mental health support service was commissioned by NHS Sussex and launched December 2025. The alliance includes additional partners from the homelessness sector to provide comprehensive mental health support across West Sussex.
• Make A Will OnlinesupportingGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Partnership offering free will writing service to first 10 supporters, then discounted wills at £60 to support legacy giving.
• West Sussex MindcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Pathfinder West Sussex alliance providing community mental health services across West Sussex as part of the West Sussex Neighbourhood Mental Health Team.
• CapitalsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Pathfinder West Sussex alliance providing mental health support services.
• SouthdownsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Pathfinder West Sussex alliance providing mental health support services.
• Crawley Open HousesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Pathfinder West Sussex alliance providing community support services.
• Turning TidessupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Pathfinder West Sussex alliance - community-based homelessness organisation active across Sussex.
• StonepillowsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Pathfinder West Sussex alliance providing support to people experiencing homelessness.
• Good Things FoundationsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership providing AI Learning Gateway resources to help people learn skills to utilise AI.
• Choir with No NamesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerBrighton choir opened in August 2018, run in partnership with BHT Sussex for people who are homeless or have experienced marginalisation.
• Sussex Partnership Foundation TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNHS trust providing mental health services. BHT Sussex works closely with Sussex Partnership Foundation Trust on Route One, Shore House, and other mental health services.
• CGL (Change, Grow, Live)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGateway service for addiction referrals. Clients needing detox or recovery are referred via CGL for comprehensive assessment.
• Make Change Count AlliancesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerAlliance supporting people experiencing homelessness across Brighton. First Base is part of this initiative.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights10 records

Direct peers

• Centrepoint: National charity supporting homeless and vulnerable young people aged 16-25 through supported housing, education and employment services. Comparable to BHT Sussex's Hastings Young Peoples Service in client age band, supported housing model and local authority commissioning.
• Look Ahead Housing and Care: Provider of supported housing, mental health, learning disability and homelessness services across London and southern England. Direct competitor for local authority and NHS commissioned supported housing and mental health contracts in overlapping South East geographies.
• Single Homeless Project: London-based charity delivering hostels, supported housing, and prevention services for single homeless people. Highly comparable client segment, supported housing model, and local authority commissioning approach to BHT Sussex's First Base, Phase One and East Sussex Floating Support services.
• St Mungo's: One of the UK's largest homelessness charities, providing hostels, supported housing, recovery and education services for people experiencing homelessness and rough sleeping. Directly comparable in mission, client base (homeless and vulnerably housed adults) and commissioned service model, though operating primarily in London and surrounding regions rather than Sussex.
• Thames Reach: London-based charity supporting people out of homelessness through hostels, supported housing, employment programmes and outreach. Highly comparable integrated service model (accommodation + support + employment) and commissioning relationships with local authorities, with similar client segments to BHT Sussex.

Broad incumbents

• Notting Hill Genesis: Major London and southern England housing association providing general needs, supported and older persons housing. Overlaps with BHT Sussex in supported housing commissioning and has the scale to compete for larger Sussex contracts, particularly in mental health and homelessness pathways.
• Shelter: National housing and homelessness charity providing advice, campaigning and some direct services across England. Overlaps with BHT Sussex's housing and benefits advice services but operates at much greater national scale and is primarily an advice and campaigning body rather than a supported housing provider.
• Home Group: One of the UK's largest housing associations providing general needs, supported and specialist housing, including mental health and homelessness services. Comparable in supported housing and mental health commissioning but with national scale, broader tenure mix and a focus on stock ownership rather than purely charitable delivery.

Regional players

• Stonepillow: West Sussex-based charity providing hostel accommodation, supported housing and resettlement services for people experiencing homelessness. Direct regional competitor in the Sussex geography and a current Pathfinder West Sussex alliance partner alongside BHT Sussex, making it the closest geographic peer.
• Turning Tides: Community-based homelessness organisation active across Sussex providing accommodation, support and outreach. Operates in overlapping Sussex geographies with BHT Sussex and is also a Pathfinder West Sussex alliance partner, making it a direct regional peer in supported housing and homelessness services.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/BHTSussex
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bht-sussex/posts/?feedView=all
• Instagraminstagram.com/bhtsussex/?hl=en
• Xx.com/BHT_Sussex

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles18 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about BHT Sussex