Two previously vacant properties owned by Herefordshire Council have been transformed into six self-contained flats that will now provide supported accommodation for homeless people in Hereford.
The site has undergone significant renovation and has now been handed over to leading housing provider, Stonewater, to manage on behalf of the Council.
The newly renovated homes have already been let to new residents who have been referred to the scheme by local homelessness charities. Residents will receive ongoing support from the Herefordshire Council’s Rough Sleeper Support Workers team, with on-site intensive housing management support provided by Stonewater with a dedicated Housing Management Coordinator employed to work at the service.
The six flats are in a central location, with easy access to local amenities and leisure facilities. Each of the flats have been refurbished and refurnished to a high standard with two of the flats also having access to a ground floor courtyard space.
Guy Morgan, Operations Manager (Supported Living) at Stonewater said, “The provision of these flats to homeless people in Hereford will be a significantsteppingstone to supporting these individuals to move on to longer term accommodation.
“We know that it is difficult to prevent homelessness, as the causes are often complex and multifaceted, however the new accommodation will provide a secure and supported environment to those in need.”
Councillor Ange Tyler, cabinet member for housing, regulatory services and community, said: “I’m really pleased to see this project come to fruition. The scheme is a great example of re-purposing existing buildings into housing for people who need it most.
“This is a new lease of life for old buildings and a new lease of life for a group of previously homeless people. It’s a fresh start in good quality homes they can be proud of.”
The scheme is in addition to Stonewater’s work with Herefordshire Council to deliver a self-build community project aimed at providing affordable housing for local veterans.
The site in Leominster delivered 19 high-quality homes and transformed the lives of the six veterans involved in the project who not only moved into a brand-new home that they had helped to build, but also had the opportunity to learn new skills.
