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Published:
11:12 AM April 10, 2021
Updated:
1:01 PM April 10, 2021
The scheme is being delivered by St Martins Housing Trust. Pictured is chief executive Dr Jan Sheldon. Picture: St Martins
- Credit: Archant
Dozens of people have helped to find a safety haven after a much-delayed hub for the homeless was finally opened in Norwich city centre.
It has been more than 18 months since the green light was given for St Martins Housing Trust to open The Old Reading Rooms - a first port-of-call for people looking to access the charity s support.
The proposals were met with fierce opposition from neighbours, who feared it would cause an increase in anti-social behaviour in the area, and a legal challenge was mounted against its approval.
Green Party councillor Jamie Osborn.
- Credit: Jamie Osborn
A Norwich councillor is calling for increased funding support to tackle sofa-surfing and rough sleeping in the city.
Jamie Osborn, Green Party councillor for the Mancroft ward, said the existing economic impact of the pandemic has created a fear of a tsunami of evictions .
Speaking after the meeting and in response to a special homeless series by the EDP, Mr Osborn said: A lot of people who I come across in Norwich really appreciate tenancy support, but the council is really stretched already with overcapacity, so it is really important we invest in this now to prevent a much greater rise in homelessness.
Published:
12:00 PM February 24, 2021
Updated:
12:07 PM February 25, 2021
Dr Jan Sheldon, from Norwich-based St Martins, said she is preparing for the situation to get much worse in Norfolk and the rest of the UK as the financial impact of the Covid-19 pandemic is felt.
- Credit: Simon Finlay
As part of a special series, Daniel Moxon looks at how efforts to support the homeless in Norwich have fared during the pandemic.
Frontline workers in Norwich have already been working flat out to support homeless people during the coronavirus pandemic – but one of those at the forefront of that work fears the worst is yet to come.