Support home to be created for the young

Support home to be created for the young

10 October 2012 - by BY DAVID TELFORD

A DERELICT building in Downpatrick has been earmarked to provide new supported accommodation for young people leaving care or who may be homeless.

The South Eastern Trust and the Housing Executive have identified the need for the new facility which will house a maximum of eight people.

Property owners in the vicinity of the four-storey English Street building — which has been lying derelict for a number of years — have been contacted via letter by a senior official from the South Eastern Trust who has outlined the detail of the redevelopment proposal.

Mr. Maurice Largey, the organisation’s senior manager for residential child care provision, said there are many young people in the Down area who need help and support in making the successful transition from care to living with greater independence.

He said these young people may be in foster care or in the care of extended family members. He said a number of young people in the area may also find themselves homeless.

Mr. Largey said there is currently no supported accommodation in the area to meet the needs of young people in these particular situations, explaining the Trust and the Housing Executive aim to provide the new supported living accommodation in English Street with the help of the Clanmill Housing Association.

“The property will be developed to cater for eight young people aged between 16 and 21. Six of the places will be for young people for up to two years, with the remaining two for young people in need of short term accommodation,” he explains in his letter.

The Trust official said the English Street facility will be staffed by Mulholland After Care Services whom, he said, have a long history in successfully delivering supported accommodation to young people.

Mr. Largey continued: “The project will be staffed 24 hours a day with a minimum of two support staff on duty at all times.

“Access will be controlled and monitored by staff who will provide close supervision of those young people on the project, the aim of which is to help them develop the necessary skills and knowledge to maintain their own tenancies in the community.”

Mr. Largey revealed that along with representatives from Mulholland After Care and the Housing Executive, he met recently with a number of political parties and community representatives to outline the proposals for English Street.