Homeless may get hostel building jobs

Today marks the official start of work on the 46-bed hostel on a disused factory site in Great Union Street.

It will replace two nearby hostels that will now be knocked down as part of city-centre regeneration plans.

Representatives from two housing associations, Riverside-ECHG and HULLHARP, who will be running the hostel, will be joined by health and council officials to see the demolition of the final standing structures on the site.

Also attending will be homeless residents who may end up gaining skills as construction trainees.

As well as providing accommodation, the centre will have facilities including a community caf, a multi-gym and an IT suite.

HULLHARP’s chief executive, Gavin Baggs, said: “We will encourage all our residents to work with us from the very outset. When they first arrive we will identify what range of support they need and will put the right training in place that will help them move on to independent living and employment.This new scheme will be a unique partnership offering unique opportunities for homeless people to turn their lives around.”