SIFA Fireside - A Brief History
SIFA Fireside was formed in December 2007 through the merger of SIFA and the Fireside Charity. Both organisations had a long history and well-established reputations in working with people who were homeless or otherwise disadvantaged, providing a city-wide service.
Fireside grew from an initiative started in 1984 by the Birmingham City Centre Council of Churches to provide a one day a week "drop-in" at St. Martin's Church for homeless and socially excluded people. Because of the high demand, the Sisters of St. Paul Convent in Selly Park became involved and the current premises at Pershore Street were acquired and renovated in 1993. Fireside offered an open-access service to adults, including practical help and more specialist work in resettlement, both emergency and long-term accommodation. A skills development programme to support those in tenancies or otherwise settled was run with Business Action on Homelessness.
Meaningful activity was also provided through projects such as theatre groups, an allotment and other recreational and social opportunities. Fireside also had a long history of volunteer involvement and of voluntary fundraising through events and links with parishes and schools.
Supporting Independence From Alcohol (formerly known as HARP) was established in 1982 to provide services for "homeless alcoholics", otherwise then described as "street drinkers", a group whose alcohol dependency was associated with extreme social disadvantage and marginalisation.
HARP set up open-access drop-in facilities for street drinkers based around St. Mary's Church, Moseley. Floating support and Supported Accommodation projects were developed with support and funding from the local authority. SIFA has since been successful in obtaining a range of statutory contracts which include the Probation Service as commissioners.
HARP became SIFA in 2003, a name which then more accurately reflected its commitment to working with its service users in a way which supported progress towards independence from addiction and reintegration into society.
Over the last few years the profile of clients had changed to include people from more diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds, as well as younger people experiencing social exclusion, poverty and substance misuse problems. Against the stereotype, many of SIFA's clients had their own tenancies, temporary or supported accommodation, although generally at risk through alcohol-related issues.