Work well underway on Carlisle hostel for homeless women and families

By Pam McClounie City centre reporter

Last updated at 13:36, Monday, 28 January 2013

A new £1.7 million hostel for families in Carlisle is taking shape.

The new hostel

The new accommodation for homeless women and families is being built on land between Robert Street and Water Street, near the Matalan and Staples stores.

The project is expected to be finished in May.

The hostel will replace Staffield House, Carlisle City Council’s current families’ hostel in London Road.

A spokesman for the city council said: “The current hostel at London Road is no longer suitable for its purpose as it has no accessible accommodation for people with disabilities or mobility problems, and it also requires residents to share facilities and rooms.

“Limitations of the current building include small rooms, inadequate communal space, lack of private and activity space, and the control of access to and from the building.

“The replacement accommodation is needed to improve the living conditions for residents which promote dignity and respect.

“It improves the quality of service provided to women and families’ experiencing homelessness and addresses equality and accessibility issues,” added the spokesman.”

The council currently provides emergency temporary accommodation and support to homeless women, families and men at a number of sites in Carlisle.

In 2011-2012, the women and family hostel provided accommodation for 238 clients and was 98 per cent occupied throughout. The spokeswoman added: “The new accommodation is purpose built and will form a secure complex to enable a variety of use according to the needs of clients.

“There will be 10 cluster units providing flexible accommodation of one to four-bedroom units, replacing the capacity to accommodate up to 24 people.

“There will also be communal areas, a private one-to-one space, play facilities, a therapy room, training facilities, laundry and offices on site providing 24 hour support services.”

First published at 13:35, Monday, 28 January 2013
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk