New homeless centre opens in Cardiff

Posted by Now Cardiff on Sep 17, 2012

The new state of the art Single Assessment Centre on Dumballs Road was officially opened today by Huw Lewis AM, Minister for Housing, Regeneration and Heritage alongside Cardiff Councils Cabinet Member for Communities, Housing and Social Justice, Cllr Lynda Thorne and Howard Gough Chair of the Huggard.

The new centre replaces the former Tresillian House hostel, as well as the Huggard hostel and day centre and marks a new era for homeless provision in the Capital

Funded by Cardiff Council, The Welsh Government, Hafod Housing Association, Huggard and the Big Lottery the new  £9.4 million provision provides a partnership approach to tackling homelessness.

The Single Assessment Centre includes a health suite where health services can be accessed and will comprise two hostels with 44 ensuite bedrooms and 16 overnight emergency beds, a new Huggard Day Centre along with training and development facilities including a café which will help retrain those living in the centre.

Cabinet Member for Communities, Housing and Social Justice, Cllr Lynda Thorne, said: ‘This is an exciting new service for those in housing need within the city.  It provides joined up services by many partner organisation who are working together to prevent homelessness and limit its often devastating effects’.

“The new centre will be a leading example not only in Wales but the rest of the UK on how to provide homeless provision and help rehabilitate some of the community’s most vulnerable people.

“The centre offers an all encompassing service with a medical centre, young person’s advisory service, and will provide training opportunities.”

The Hostel will be run by a number of key service providers including Cardiff Council, The Huggard, the Salvation Army, Llamau, and the Cardiff & Vale University Health Board.

Cllr Thorne, added: “The new centre is a prime example of skilled organisations working together to provide the best solution. Together their expertise will help to not only give people a bed for the night but help people get back on their feet.

“The centre on Dumballs Road has been a long time coming and will set a benchmark to ourselves and other councils across the UK in how homeless people should be treated.”

Contractor Cowlin Construction were commissioned to build the state of the art centre which features three sedum roofs, various external finishes with gardens and an allotment.

Housing Regeneration and Heritage Minister Huw Lewis said: “It is a pleasure to open this first class facility and I am delighted that Welsh Government funding has contributed to both the construction and the running of the centre. Housing all the services in one building will mean that the centre is not just providing a roof over people’s heads but also helping them to address any other issues they have and to find a long term home. It is an excellent example of what can be achieved when government, local authorities and the third sector all work together.”

Howard Gough the Chair of Huggard  said  “Huggard exists to support and empower homeless people to achieve their maximum potential in life and this development will provide the absolutely best facilities available to enable the organisation to achieve this.”

He also paid tribute to the Welsh Government and Cardiff Council for their long standing policies for fighting social exclusion.

The ceremony also commemorated the work of Paul Summers, the architect who designed the scheme but sadly passed away before the buildings were constructed.

Lloyds TSB and Cardiff Council in first home initiative

Posted by Now Cardiff on Apr 30, 2012

Lloyds TSB and Cardiff Council have joined forces to help first time buyers purchase a home with a deposit of just 5%. The Local Lend a Hand product will be available in local branches of Lloyds TSB from 27 April 2012.

First time buyers often say that raising a deposit is the biggest challenge they face when looking to take their first steps onto the property ladder.

Responding to calls for further innovation in the first time buyer market, Lloyds TSB worked with Sector Treasury Services, part of the Capita Group, to develop the Local Lend a Hand product. The scheme enables borrowers to buy their first home with a deposit less than the 25% required by most mortgage lenders. The fixed rate mortgage products that will be available during this scheme will also be at a lower rate of interest than would normally be available for this level of deposit.

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