New Lincoln homeless shelter gets £700k grant to start work

YMCA Lincolnshire will get just over £700,000 from Homes England to build a day and night centre for the homeless in the city.

As previously reported, YMCA Lincolnshire received outline planning permission to transform its former gym and leisure space on into the Lincoln Nomad Centre.

YMCA Lincolnshire was initially trying to raise £1.2 million for the renovation project which would extend its site on St Rumbold’s Street.

This latest funding helps them edge closer to their new higher target of £1.6 million, which allows them to upgrade to a higher spec project.

The Nomad Centre will also replace YMCA Lincolnshire’s Nomad Shelter on Monks Road.

The City of Lincoln Council previously approved plans from YMCA Lincolnshire for its Lincoln Nomad Centre.

Construction on the purpose built emergency overnight accommodation for the most vulnerable people in the city could begin as early as April 2019.

Along with 20 en-suite bedrooms, the new Nomad Centre will include a hub on the ground floor where there will be a kitchen facility providing three hot meals a day, toilets and shower rooms. There will also be consulting rooms.

CEO at YMCA Lincolnshire Caroline Killeavy. Photo: YMCA Lincolnshire

Chief Executive at YMCA Lincolnshire Caroline Killeavy: “We have been waiting with bated breath to hear the outcome of the bid to Homes England and are thrilled that Lincoln has been awarded this funding.

“We have listened to feedback and designed the new centre in such a way that it ensures the dignity and privacy of everyone who uses it. The Nomad Centre will break down barriers that were previously preventing people accessing essential services.”

Tackling a rising county problem

The latest statistics recorded that the number of rough sleepers in Lincolnshire rose 225% between 2010 and 2018.

Between October 2017 and October 2018 more than 260 people accessed the Nomad Shelter in Lincoln.

Caroline added: “The Nomad Centre will provide emergency accommodation, but crucially, in the form of en-suite rooms instead of the dormitory-style facilities on offer now.

“People accessing the centre will be given a helping hand to access medical services, find alternative, more permanent places to live and will be provided with support for addiction and mental health.

“We will continue to work collaboratively with organisations and local authorities across Lincoln and this will provide an opportunity to bring essential services under one roof.”

The grant was received through the Blue Skies Consortium – a group of housing associations led by Longhurst Group and Nottingham Community Housing Association (NCHA). They are strategic partners of Homes England.

The two providers are joint owners of Pitch Development Services which will be project managing the scheme on behalf of the YMCA.