Serving Crawley Since 1994
Our History
1994
2024 marked our 30th anniversary. It all started on Christmas Eve 1994, when we launched a permanent hostel instead of a temporary cold-weather shelter. Portakabins once used to house construction workers building the Channel Tunnel were craned into Spencers Road in Crawley town centre and converted to provide 12 single and four double rooms plus an office, a shower, a toilet and a laundry block.
1999
In 1999 those who ran Crawley Open House had the foresight and ambition to take out a large bank loan to purchase Dalma House, a former metalwork factory on Stephenson Way in Three Bridges. It was refurbished and became our first purpose-built hostel. The bank loan was repaid within a year and the much-modified and extended building remains our hostel and HQ to this day.
During the 90's
We have provided drop-in services since the early 1990s, where people can get a bite to eat, a shower, do some laundry, see one of the advice team or just sit with a coffee in the company of others in a place that feels safe and welcoming. We have always organised fun activities too, such as bingo, football, cooking, music workshops and trips out to the Coast, Tilgate Park and Wakehurst.
2000's
With the help of the Crawley Borough Council we opened our first move-on accommodation in the community for five residents back in 2009. The house became an important stepping stone on the way to full independent living. Second and third move-on houses opened for residents with a local connection in 2013 and 2014 respectively. Today, thanks to community support, we have a total of six such houses scattered around the community. Along with our 24 hostel bed spaces, 60 men and women, and sometimes their animal companions, call Crawley Open House 'home' every night.
2020
John Laing Group has been a strong backer of our work since our inception. In 2020, the John Laing Charitable Trust and Sussex Community Foundation helped fund the construction of eight rooms above our hostel, providing vital extra move-on accommodation. Due to the COVID pandemic the unit wasn’t officially opened until spring 2023. Pictured are Chris and Helen from JLCT, along with High Sheriff of West Sussex Andy Bliss and Deputy Lieutenant of West Sussex Rev. Rupert Toovey. The opening ceremony was a moving event, especially when we heard from those whose situations had been transformed by living in the newly created Laing Rooms.
2022
In July 2022 we opened the doors of our new Resource Centre opposite the hostel. The planning, fundraising and construction work all largely happened in the midst of a global pandemic - no mean feat! Two small industrial units were completely stripped out and knocked together to create a vibrant modern space which houses our drop-in day centre every weekday morning and a place of wellbeing and learning each afternoon. It has become a community hub for more than 30 external agencies such as Crawley Borough Council housing team, Change Grow Live (CGL) drug/alcohol service, NHS and Alliance For Better Care nurses, the mental health team and Streetlight womens' support.
2026
In 2026 we recruited two Creole-speaking Chagossian support workers to help us look after many residents and clients from the Chagos Islands and Mauritius, with funding from the Government's Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office.
Thank You
Thank You to all our staff, trustees and volunteers past and present. You have delivered such care and compassion over the decades to those in crisis 24/7, 365 days a year.
