Homeless must accept training if they stay at £4m super-hostel

HOMELESS people will have to agree to learn how to cook and manage their finances if they want to stay at a new multi-million-pound super hostel in Hull.

Residents at a new 4m centre for the homeless, due to open in Great Union Street in spring next year, must agree to undergo training packages and work with an assigned key worker if they are to claim one of the 46 beds.

The facility, which will be run by English Churches Housing Group (ECHG) in partnership with Hull Homeless and Rootless Project, will mark a new approach to tackling homelessness in the city.

A report to Hull Council’s Health and Social Wellbeing Overview and Scrutiny Commission next week said a range of activities is being planned to “give service users a reason to get out of bed in the morning” and stop them getting bored.

Susan Littlemore, spokeswoman for ECHG, said: “This is not a hostel. Hostels hark back to days when people just sat around not doing much.

“What we have seen from other residents, and we deal with about 10,000 people from Newcastle to Kent, is providing a roof over someone’s head is fine if that’s all you can do, but it doesn’t deal with the homelessness issue.

“You have to look at the support people need and filling in the gap.

“Plenty of people would struggle to budget or cook themselves healthy meals. All of that we know people need help with.”

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

The 28 staff will provide structured support to residents and bring in expertise from other agencies where needed.

In addition to training in life skills, employment services will be available and numeracy and literacy skills will be taught.

The aim is to provide enough assistance to restore the independence of residents.

Ms Littlemore said: “It’s a first for Hull and even nationally it’s a very rare blueprint to have all these things under one roof.

“What we want to make clear is that it’s not just a resource for the people that are there, but for the community as well.”

The centre, to be built on a derelict site, will replace Harbour Hostel in Roper Street and Dock House in St Peter Street, which will both be knocked down.

Users of existing homeless services in the city are being asked to suggest a name for the new centre.

“At the end of the day it’s going to be their home for a period of time,” Ms Littlemore said.

The report said the activities will provide a feeling of optimism.

It continued: “..with a structured support package delivered by highly-motivated, well-trained staff, residents can get their lives back on track before any feelings of depression and despair send them on a downward spiral.”

The council took possession of the land on January 27 and has begun clearing the site. Construction is expected to take a year.

Coun Rick Welton, portfolio holder for housing and regeneration, said: “It’s a great programme and a fantastic building and it will have a really good range of facilities that will help people get their lives back on track.”

The centre is being funded by a 2m grant from the Homes and Communities Agency, with another 1.5m grant from Places of Change – a funding stream supporting the homeless – and 300,000 from NHS Hull.

Riverside Housing Group, of which ECHG is a part, has bought the site and will cover the remaining construction costs.

A total of 10 people were found to be sleeping rough in Hull in May 2008, and eight a year later.

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