A SISTER fighting to find accommodation for her brother says there is not enough help for homeless people in the borough.

Karen Heffer has spent over a year trying to help 52-year-old Steve Goff after he became homeless in February 2006 but despite many phone calls to Reigate and Banstead Borough Council and various support organisations he spends most nights in Priory Park, Reigate.

The mother-of-two says she is unable to accommodate her brother at her family home in Horley since he developed a drink problem. He is now staying in a temporary hostel in Crawley.

She said: "He is in an open house at the moment but he can only stay there for a six-week period. He is trying to get his act together but he has been totally ignored. It is not easy dealing with someone who drinks but they seem to take care of people who take drugs. I feel he has been very let down by everyone saying there's nothing we can do'. The housing people say they had put him down as an urgent case. I have to say Steve is trying very hard to cut down on the drink but without any help or accommodation in the next few weeks he will be back to square one."

Mrs Heffer has been referred to countless organisations including Social Services, SADAS (Surrey Alcohol and Drug Advisory Service), Respond alcohol team and Liberty Outreach. Despite their best efforts Mr Goff, who was evicted from a rented flat in Redhill, has been told there are no hostel places for him within the borough and after a year of waiting he is 15th on the waiting list for permanent housing.

A spokesperson for Reigate and Banstead Borough Council said: "People with housing need can apply to be on our housing register where they are placed in a band most appropriate to their need. They then have to wait for suitable accommodation to become available. We have over 3,000 people on our housing register and receive about 400 housing allocations a year.

"If people are homeless or threatened with homelessness then they should approach us separately. Their situation is then assessed and appropriate help or advice can be given including temporary accommodation. Early advice from our housing team is helping to prevent people losing their homes. In 2004 over 250 households were accepted as homeless, this was reduced to fewer than 100 in 2006."

The council said it was unable to comment on individual cases.