Work begins on help for rough sleepers in Newcastle-under-Lyme

Work is scheduled to begin to reduce rough sleeping and help those at risk of homelessness in Newcastle-under-Lyme.  Conversion work starts this week to adapt former offices at Stubbs Gate to provide safe, secure accommodation for those needing support.  Nearby residents have already been shown plans for the building, named Navigation House, and will be kept updated as work progresses.

Gill Heesom, Newcastle-under-Lyme Bough Council’s Cabinet member for Community Safety and Wellbeing, said: “Navigation House will only be used to help people sleeping rough so that they don’t experience a second night on the streets.  As well as helping vulnerable members of our community in a moment of need, this changes the perception of what’s happening in our town centre and makes it less intimidating.”

The detached building was chosen because it’s close to the town centre, is an enclosed site and has an internal courtyard, with a well-positioned management office.  With 12 beds, the site will be run by managers who have proven experience of providing similar services.  Once it’s up and running, monthly meetings will be scheduled with nearby residents. Planning permission for the change of use was granted for 12 months, with a review of its impact to be carried out after it has operated for a year.

Navigation House will offer practical support to people to either improve or maintain their situation, and Users can be put in touch with different services, housing associations, the Department for Work and Pensions, and offered financial advice as needed.

Targeting rough sleeping is also shown to reduce pressure on police, ambulance and hospital services, while also reducing demand for emergency bed and breakfast accommodation, which in turn saves public money.

The conversion work is being funded by a successful bid by the council to the Shared Prosperity Fund.