First Stop Darlington provides a relaxed and friendly, café style drop in centre where people can access advice on a wide range of issues including housing, benefits and money difficulties, as well as help to fill out forms.

First Stop Darlington is a local charity working with people who are homeless, at risk of becoming homeless or those who are socially excluded. We estimate that there are four to six  people sleeping on the streets of Darlington on any one night.  

There are many more ‘hidden homeless’, who may be living in hostels, bed and breakfast accommodation, squats, or sleeping on the floor of friends of family. Most are struggling with problems of unemployment, debt, relationship breakdown, drug, alcohol or mental health issues.