Council agrees funding for homelessness projects

Published by webmaster for Salisbury District Council in Communities

Salisbury District Council has agreed a package of support for local homelessness projects totalling over £750,000.

Three schemes run by local housing groups will benefit from these awards.

Alabare Christian Care Centres will receive £500,000 capital funding towards the £2.5m cost of demolishing and rebuilding the Damascus House homelessness hostel. The new building would provide 34 beds in self-contained units consisting of two single bedrooms, a kitchen and a bathroom.

Capital funding of £198,000 will go to the Signpost Housing Association to re-model a property in St Marks Road to provide three self-contained flats for single homeless people moving out of hostel accommodation.

The final award of a £55,000 (£2,800 capital and the rest as revenue funding) over three years was to the Morning Star charity towards providing crisis accommodation for two rough sleepers, accommodation for two single homeless people and a programme of rehabilitation and therapy. 

Andrew Reynolds, Head of Strategic Housing Services said; “At any one time, there are about 10 people sleeping out every night in Salisbury out of around 40 rough sleepers that we know of.

“The council had already earmarked money for homelessness schemes in May of this year and these projects will go a significant way towards helping some of the most vulnerable people in the district.”

Cllr John Cole-Morgan, Salisbury District Council portfolio holder for community and housing said; “I am very pleased that we are able to work in partnership with three such dedicated and effective bodies to tackle homelessness in Salisbury.

“I look forward to seeing these developments coming to fruition.”

Ends

Press release issued: October 31 2006