Preston homeless shelter approved

A homeless shelter is to be created in the heart of Preston city centre.

The facility, to be run by Preston City Council, will open in a vacant shop on Market Street and will also function as a walk-in support centre.

The Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) understands the unit – based directly opposite the Flag Market – could launch as soon as next month. It has been granted permission to operate for up to three years by the authority’s own independent planning committee.

The night shelter will be able to accommodate up to 16 people at any one time, all of whom will have been referred via the city council’s rough sleeper initiative and undergone a risk assessment before being admitted.

Access will be controlled by a buzzer system and nobody will be allowed in if they are “under significant influence of drugs or alcohol”.  They will also have to arrive by 11pm in order to gain entry.

The facility will operate as an emergency shelter, meaning users will not be able to live there on a permanent basis.

The outreach centre will operate from the ground floor of the premises – which was last occupied by a betting shop – and will offer a range of services that will enable rough sleepers to take what the council describes as the “first steps” away from a life on the street.

In a statement issued to the LDRS after approval was granted, cabinet member for communities and social justice Nweeda Khan said the authority was “dedicated to supporting the most vulnerable citizens of Preston, to assist them to rebuild their lives and find safe and secure accommodation away from the streets”.

During a brief debate on the application, planning committee member Cllr Liz Atkins expressed concern over the proposed level of staffing for the shelter, which she did not believe was “adequate”.

The facility will be staffed at all times by two paid members of staff and four volunteers, with an on-call manager also available if needed.

Cllr Atkins said the ratio of one paid staff member to eight service users was “very poor”, but planning officer James Mercer said that the matter was for the council to decide in its capacity as operator, rather than something that should be enforced as part of the planning process.

Seven public objections were lodged to the proposal, with concerns raised including the potential for antisocial behaviour and a “negative impact” on the retail and night-time economy, which would “deter people from visiting Preston”.

However, a report by planning officers concluded that the feared effects of the facility related largely to “existing issues” in the city centre, which would not be exacerbated by the new service.

The document added that the risk assessments required for users of the night shelter and the advice to be taken from the police about the design of the building would ensure “a safe and accessible environment” was created – and would not result in “any harmful impact on users of the city centre”.

In its planning application, the council suggested the new facility would actually reduce incidents of “aggressive begging”.

Preston charity The Foxton Centre already provides emergency accommodation for rough sleepers in the city, but its 14 beds are full most nights.

The new council unit – a version of which was trailed in a church hall last winter –  will be a significant step up from the legally-required shelter all local authorities have to provide for the street homeless when the temperature is forecast to drop below freezing point for three consecutive nights

HOW WILL IT WORK?

The LDRS understands that six full-time, paid members of city council staff will work on a rota basis, supported by a four-member outreach team.  The volunteers who will offer support have their own experience of homelessness and have already received training for the role in anticipation of the new shelter opening.

Cllr Khan said publicity surrounding the plans had attracted “quite a few enquiries from the public wanting to help”.

“More training can now go ahead and if anyone would like to get involved, we urge them to get in touch to find out more,” she said.

The shelter will include single-sex areas, but the layout will be flexible so that it can be adapted to meet the level of demand on any given day.  An 11-bed dormitory of single rooms will be based on the first floor, while two disabled rooms – each with a double bed – and a private single bedroom will be located on the ground floor level.

The combined operating hours for the building will be from noon until 9am the next day.

WHERE IS THE MONEY COMING FROM?

The shelter is being funded by £206,000 in additional targeted government funding which Preston has been allocated because of the level of homelessness in the city, along with £100,000 from the Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government.

It will be supplemented by an additional £97,000 from a reserve fund held by the city council, which had already been earmarked for the purpose of creating the new facility.