Work Begins for Help with 'Rough Sleepers' in Newcastle-under-Lyme

Work is scheduled to begin within days to reduce rough sleeping and help those at risk of homelessness.

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 to some.”

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.

Gill Heesom added: “It’s important that Navigation House is a ‘good neighbour’ during construction and then afterwards.

“Its presence will make a difference to people’s lives, but we don’t want it to affect those living nearby.”

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.

Navigation House will offer practical support to people to either improve or maintain their situation.

Users can be put in touch with different services, housing associations, the Department for Work and Pensions, and offered financial advice as needed.

The conversion work is being funded by a successful bid by Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough council to the Shared Prosperity Fund.