New homeless shelter - Leigh-on-Sea

Share this story!

A CHARITY in Southend is celebrating receipt of funding that will enable it to transform a former Westcliff hotel into a new shelter for people experiencing homelessness.

A CHARITY in Westcliff is celebrating receipt of funding that will enable it to transform a former Westcliff hotel into a new shelter for people experiencing homelessness.

Off The Streets –a Southend-based charity –received £220,000 in National Lottery funding to begin work on refurbishing Trinity Hotel, and turning it into a shelter, with seven en-suite bedrooms.

The funds will go towards the cost of refurbishment of the Victorian property in Trinity Avenue, which will see two of the seven bedrooms made into double rooms, and one room on the ground floor rebuilt to allow access for a disabled resident.

Kirsty Fields, shelter manager, said: “Work has started, and it is so exciting to see the progression and changes happening. We have a great team of builders that really get our vision.

“It will mean we can help reduce the numbers of those rough sleeping. To us it’s just a shelter, but to our guests it’s their home.

“We will also run classes and coffee mornings too, as things like that are just as important sometimes, a chat and someone to listen to how they are feeling.”

The charity, founded five years ago, had previously run a night shelter in Beedell Avenue, Westcliff, before applying to transform the Trinity Hotel into their vision of a community space to help create safe futures for people.

Ms Fields added: “It feels great to receive the funding. I really hope to emphasise the message that if you set your mind to something you can achieve it.

“A big thanks again for helping us, this will make a big difference to people’s lives in our community.”

To learn more about Off The Streets, visit: offthestreetsessex.org.uk/

about author

Editor