19 July 2010
The Shelter Trust will have a newly refurbished facility to assist its work in supporting Jersey’s homeless, thanks to the Fiscal Stimulus Fund.
Treasury and Resources Minister Senator Philip Ozouf has allocated £464,107 to the Housing Department so that the Shelter can move from St James Street to St Mark’s Road by the end of the year.
80 St Mark’s Road, currently 6 flats managed by the Housing Department, will be converted to hostel accommodation and leased to The Shelter Trust. The building will provide temporary, medium-term accommodation for at least 17 people.
This SSI-listed building had previously been used as a temporary seasonal hostel. It will now provide improved facilities and hostel accommodation for more people than the Shelter Trust’s current premises in St James Street.
Senator Ozouf said “I am keen to support an organisation that provides such a valuable social service.
“The project will provide work for local business and labour, and is scheduled to be undertaken in 2010, significantly increasing public sector spending and investment in Jersey’s infrastructure.”
Dr Margaret Bayes, chair of the Shelter Trust, said “The trust very much welcomes this news. It is great news for homeless people and will directly improve the quality of their lives.
“The present buildings used by the trust at St James Street are no longer 'fit for purpose'. We can now look forward to a new beginning at St Marks Road.
“I would like to record the thanks of the trust to Senator Ozouf and Deputy Power for their work on this initiative over what is now many months. Their continuing support for the trust's work with the homeless community is vital to our success.”
The Shelter Trust provides accommodation and support for homeless people in Jersey, with the aim of getting people into employment and back to living independently in as short a time as possible.
It operates 3 buildings in St Helier, providing a ‘stepping stone’ approach to gaining independence. Clients needing emergency accommodation go to Aztec House at Kensington Place. From there they can move to St James Street and while many then move directly into the community, others needing more support can move to the Trust’s other facility in Midvale Road which offers more independent living.
Housing Minister, Deputy Sean Power said “At Housing we are committed to supporting organisations such as Shelter who provide accommodation for those in need.
“Developing this new facility from a building previously used for more mainstream housing is a demonstration of that commitment and will ensure that the Shelter Trust can continue to provide a very valuable service to the Island.”
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