Squat ‘We must sell building to help neediest’
THE owner of an occupied property has said it understands many squat to avoid sleeping on the streets – but that it needs to sell the building to reinvest in support for vulnerable people.
Last week, it became apparent that squatters had moved into the Salvation Army building on Dean Lane, Bedminster.
And now the owner of the south Bristol property has issued a statement in relation to this, which says: “As a church and charity committed to ending homelessness, we understand that many people who are squatting are doing so to avoid sleeping on the streets.
“In Bristol, The Salvation Army operates Logos House Lifehouse (supported accommodation) and provides a range of services to support rough sleepers temporarily housed under the Everyone In scheme.
“Our homelessness support services are designed to tackle the reasons why people ended up homeless in the first place which can be ill mental health, fleeing domestic violence and addiction.
“In addition to this, our commu
nity churches in Bristol offer practical and signposted services to support people forced to sleep rough.
“Some of our older buildings, however, are not designed to offer the intense wrap-around care needed to support someone who is
homeless and so we are selling some of them to reinvest in tailored support for vulnerable people.”
The Post understands a date for a court hearing to try to obtain a possession order hasn’t been set yet.
The property is currently being listed as being for sale by Savills, which says it is under offer.
It is being advertised as a development opportunity and it states that the building is vacant and secure, not having been used by the church since 2019.