Council-owned house set to become centre for homeless

Councillors are being asked to approve the lease of North House in Swan Lane, Lockwood, to Connect Housing Association which will provide up to nine housing units.

The property will be staffed so residents are helped to get their lives on track.

Some units could be taken by young people who have fallen out with their parents and those leaving care.

North House has been empty for over two years and is considered suitable to be converted, having previously been a residence for adults with a learning disability. Planning permission will not be needed.

Connect Housing Association has secured £120,000 of Government money to fund nine units of supported accommodation.

Connect is expected to use the grant and their own resources to meet the conversion costs and the ongoing management and maintenance costs.

The estimated capital cost of the scheme has been put at £215,000.

Members of Kirklees Council’s Cabinet committee will discuss a report on the plans at a meeting on Tuesday.

The report says: “The nine places will accommodate and support young vulnerable homeless people, some of whom will be 16/17 years old and young people leaving care, to whom the council has a statutory duty and where there are already insufficient accommodation options.

“The service at North House would have a clear focus on enabling young people to develop the skills and confidence needed to move onto more permanent accommodation, make a success of creating a settled home of their own, and enter training, further education or employment.

“A similar scheme already operating in Batley has proved effective in increasing young people’s ability to move onto more settled accommodation and manage their own home successfully.”

Coun Peter McBride, who has responsibility for housing, said that the support element of the accommodation was “critical” in helping vulnerable young people manage their lives.

“This provision is on a modest scale; we would like it on a larger scale.”