The City of York council’s new 57 flat temporary accommodation project is well underway to completion, with a show-flat now open.
Families and couples experiencing homelessness will benefit from the 57 high quality one, two and three bedroom self-contained apartments, plus offices and training spaces at James House, which will be owned and managed by City of York Council.
James House consolidates into one building most of the temporary accommodation for homeless families currently scattered across the city. This means that support workers will be better able to help prepare people take on the homes they need and for further training or work to help with the issues of why families have become homeless in the first place.
£12.4 million investment has been financed by £2.451m from Homes England and £9.949m from the council’s Housing Revenue Account. This funding includes the purchase and redevelopment of James House, and replacing the temporary accommodation at Ordnance Lane.
The Conservative-led council has had tangible success with its approach to addressing the causes of homelessness. Last financial year a programme providing a package of advice tailored to each family on matters including debt management, resolving benefits issues, negotiation or legal advocacy and conciliation helped prevent 616 York households from becoming homeless. As a result, at the end of September 2018, there were 59 households in temporary accommodation
Cllr Jenny Brooks, executive member for housing and safer neighbourhoods, said: “We don’t want anyone to suffer the uncertainty and worry of losing their home which is why we encourage residents to come to us for early and preventative advice and support.
“When it is needed, James House offers quality temporary accommodation, and access to training and support to help people prepare and apply for work, and to budget and manage any future tenancy.”
