Plans for £6m Coventry homeless support centre mooted

Published by Max Salsbury for 24dash.com in Housing and also in Communities, Development

Local people have been asked for their views on a planned £6m centre of excellence for homeless people in Coventry.

Whitefriars Housing has identified land on a current industrial site on Adelaide Street in Hillfields for its planned residential, training and support centre, and will await the public response before submitting plans to the council.

Whitefriars announced the plans for the 60-room centre last November after receiving a £2.1m grant from the Homes and Communities Agency. When completed, the building will offer residents "enhanced support services", training, and life and vocational sills.

Rachel Hobbs, director of housing services at WM Housing, which Whitefriars Housing is part of, said: “We are excited about our plans.  The centre will not only represent a £6m investment in Coventry at a time of economic uncertainty, but most importantly, we will be able to help vulnerable people to make positive life changes, hopefully resulting in them moving into work and a settled home."

Whitefriars manages around 18,000 homes in Coventry and has experience of providing accommodation with support services for homeless people. Its Supported Housing for Young People Project in Herefordshire has won multiple awards.

Kenny was given support by Whitefriars after becoming homeless at 16. He was signposted to The Chace Centre, a supported living centre for homeless people run by Whitefriars. Kenny, now 18, said: “The Chace has really helped me get my life sorted. The staff have helped me do the things I wanted to do like getting my own place and furnishing it.

“The next step now is to get on to a college course and I want to train to be an electrician. People shouldn’t be scared of asking for help.”