Victory in four-year fight to help homeless people
A MASSIVE step has been taken in long-running plans to convert two disused buildings in Portsmouth into loving homes for homeless families.
The Portsmouth CommunityHousingTrust(PCHT)was formedwiththemissiontotake ownership or management of propertytoprovideaccommodation for those most in need. As its first project it took on a pair of semi-detached houses inAngersteinRoad,NorthEnd.
After board members worked diligently for years to overcome financial, legal and logistical challenges - wonderingwhethertheirperseverance was going to pay off - the green lighttogoaheadisnowshining brightly and workmen have moved in. They will refurbish, remodelandupgradetheproperties to provide two four-bed houses, with the hope that the firstfamilieswillmoveinbythe end of the year.
Trust chairman Fr Bob White said: ‘Visiting the properties and seeing the work under way was a very special day –agroupofushavebeenworking for four years towards this moment on what has been a rollercoaster of a journey. I am proud at what we have now achieved and excited that we willbeabletoofferrefurbished homestothoseinneedofthem in our city.’
Fr Bob said a great deal of workwascarriedoutacrossthe citytosupporthomelesscharitiesandindividualsandseekto meettheirneeds.Butheadded thattheexistenceofPCHTwas vitalasitwassetuptotacklethe underlying problem of homelessness - the lack of homes for people to move into.
‘There is a bottleneck and a growingnumberofpeoplewho can get stuck in hostels or bed andbreakfastaccommodation sowearecommittedtoseeking to do what we can to provide homesandaddressthisunderlying cause,’ he added.
Among the trust board members, Andrew Mason has worked hard to progress the financial and legal paperwork whileMarkSingletonhastaken controlofprojectmanagingthe building work.
Carrying out the work is Farlington-based JPC Property Services. The trust wanted to use a city-based firm and said it was grateful that JPC directors Keith Johnson and Neil Scutt had shown patience in sticking with them.
To find out more go to www.portsmouthcht.org. uk or search for Portsmouth Community Housing Trust.