Trinity Winchester, the award-winning charity supporting homeless and vulnerable people, has welcomed planning permission for its innovative UnderOneRoof project to build eleven self-contained housing units as an extension to its drop-in centre in central Winchester.
The project will provide safe housing alongside Trinity’s wrap-around support services that will enable people to move on to independent living. Winchester based architects Hyphen, have drawn up plans for the new development which will include communal facilities and a therapy room, further complemented by Trinity’s day-centre services.
With support from Winchester City Council and other county-wide stakeholders, the development will be financially sustainable, with running costs met through housing benefit and additional services.
The project is based on Housing First principles, a proven model of success evolving from Finland, the USA and Scotland. Its core principle is that everybody has a right to a home and that stable and secure housing is an essential pre-requisite to turning lives around.
Sue McKenna, Trinity’s Chief Executive said: “It has long been Trinity’s ambition to provide homes for our clients, with a holistic approach, which will offer long-term benefits with life-changing outcomes. The UnderOneRoof project, when opened, will have an immediate impact of reducing the number of rough sleepers in the Winchester District. It will also improve their health and long-term prospects.”
The development’s total cost is £1.47m. Following a generous gift of £500,000 from the Deflog-VQ Trust and considering other donations and reserves, Trinity still needs to raise £910,000 this year to be able to complete the project by the end of 2020.
If you’d like to get involved, find out more or donate to the UnderOneRoof Capital Appeal Fund, please do get in touch at sue@trinitywinchester.org.uk. The project’s website is at www.trinitywinchester.org.uk/UnderOneRoofAppeal
