While many homeless people in Brighton and Hove are young men, a new project has been set up to help the older ones also struggling to survive.

Half of those attending the First Base Day Centre in Montpelier Place are over 50 so Brighton Housing Trust, its manager, has joined Friends of the Elderly to tackle the problem.

Tony was in desperate need of help when he wandered into the First Base Day Centre.

Isolated, depressed, confused and in need of medical help, he was finding living alone in Brighton hard to cope with and his home became progressively more and more run down.

Tony, one of the many over-50s who are homeless or in poor housing and use Brighton's First Base, also had a very simple need - a shoulder to cry on.

Sue Middleton, who specialises in dealing with older people, discovered he was deaf in one ear and arranged help for that.

Tony also had cataracts and she was able to arrange operations to make his sight better, as well as arrange for him to move into supported housing where he could receive more attention.

But most of all she had time to talk.

Another man, David, also about the same age, lost his high-powered City job when drink and stress took their toll.

He went on to lose contact with his wife and children and had no money. Home was a tenement in Brighton before he was given help.

He was facing eviction and was so fed up waiting for the dreaded day that he was going to walk out.

But this would have made him intentionally homeless and not eligible for alternative housing so Sue persuaded him to stay and arranged for him to be moved to new, long-term housing.

Friends of the Elderly also helped buy essentials such as a fridge, cooker and radio. He is now well settled and Sue visits regularly.

First Base has always aided its older visitors but it was often difficult to give them all the time they needed.

This has changed since Sue, who has worked at the centre for many years, was seconded to work for Friends of the Elderly.

The London-based charity was given £30,000 by an anonymous Brighton businessman.

It has topped up that sum so Sue can work for two years at First Base, concentrating on aiding the elderly.

This follows a similar, highly successful scheme at a much larger day centre in Pimlico, London, but which has a smaller proportion of older clients.

Sue said that while the average age of death on the streets of Brighton was about 48, many people at First Base were older. They can be helped under the Friends of the Elderly scheme once they have reached 50.

Of the 120 daily visitors, half are 50 plus. Robin, the oldest is 88. Many have different problems from younger homeless men and women.

While drugs and drink play a big part in the lives of most young homeless, with older people isolation, stress and dementia are common factors.

Sue's new job means that she can go with them to hospital, visit them in their homes and give all the back- up they need.

She helps them fill in forms, puts them in touch with medical aid and generally gives them comfort.

Sometimes help can be as simple as explaining the current plot in TV's Coronation Street. Sometimes it is much more complicated and involves dealing with mental illness.

Geoffrey Dennis, who lives in Haywards Heath, is chief executive of Friends of the Elderly which has been running since 1905.

It has doubled in size within the past 18 months after taking over care homes and centres from Help the Aged. Two of its establishments are in Haywards Heath.

The charity offers a nationwide grant and welfare scheme, nursing and residential care plus specialised support for the older homeless. It has expertise in aiding those with dementia.

Mr Dennis said: "Many older people are isolated and go for days without meeting another person.

"Often they live on very low incomes, as little as £10 a week, because they need help with their finances and understanding their rights. There is a real lack of understanding in the UK about dementia.

Mr Dennis said the charity aimed to keep people in their own homes if possible and added: "There is still a great and increasing need for high level residential and nursing care."

After the success of the London venture offering support to homeless or poorly housed older people, Friends of the Elderly looked to expand its services.

With the help of the donation and knowledge of First Base, it decided to set up in Brighton.

Mr Dennis said: "We hope some of the people will eventually be able to live on their own and even start work again."

Sue added: "It is ideal for me because I already know know the centre works. I have a variety of work but much of my time will be spent simply talking. Many elderly people need help, reassurance and someone who will chat to them."

For further information, call Friends of the Elderly on 020 7730 8263.