A NEW homelessness centre will open up in Worcester city centre, thanks to £242,601 in Government funding.
The ‘Somewhere Safe to Stay’ hub at the Salvation Army base in The Trinity, will open in September, supporting people across the county already sleeping rough or in danger of ending up on the streets.
It will accommodate up to six people a night, offering showers, washing and laundry services and have support workers on-site 24 hours-a-day.
It is for people committed to getting off the streets and already receiving help from support services.
The aim is to create a safe space where people in crisis can have their needs assessed urgently, away from dangers they may encounter sleeping on the streets.
Private interview rooms will enable people to receive support from different agencies and support workers will help rough sleepers draw up an action plan to get them back into accommodation.
Coun James Stanley, Chair of Worcester City Council’s communities committee, said the centre would offer rapid and intensive support to help those who needed it to get off the streets and into accommodation.
“This is a positive step in the countywide campaign to reduce rough sleeping as the funding will create a place of safety all year round, not just during the cold winter months.”
The funding for the new hub was secured from the Government’s Rapid Rehousing Pathway Fund following a city council-led bid on behalf of Worcestershire’s six district councils and in partnership with the charity Caring for Communities and People (CCP).
The CCP currently runs the single homeless and childless couples homelessness prevention service for Worcestershire and will operate the new centre.
Funding for the shower was raised by CCP through its sponsored Big Sleep Out event, held earlier this year.
In the last year district council services, in partnership with St Paul’s Hostel, Maggs Day Centre and CCP, helped 124 people at risk of rough sleeping get back into housing and provided extensive support to people on the streets.
Anyone who spots a rough sleeper can call Streetlink on 0300 500 0914 and local service providers will find and support them.
