Reaching out to the homeless (From Thisisdorset)

Reaching out to the homeless

9:50am Saturday 9th August 2008 in

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AN organisation which helps rough sleepers in Dorchester is expanding its role to help the homeless in Weymouth.

The Hub drop-in centre in the county town is taking on £5,500 from the Weymouth and Portland Rough Sleepers Initiative (WIRS) after the charity's trustees decided to cease operations.

Dr Margaret Barker, a founder trustee of the Hub, said: "The Hub has always worked closely with WIRS supporters in our efforts to provide day services for local rough sleepers because we are aware that many of those who visit our Dorchester centre are from Weymouth and vice-versa.

"It makes sense that we extend our operations to cover both areas."

She said the Hub trustees planned to get a strong committee in place to take forward plans to expand the range of services already offered to homeless people in Weymouth.

Currently rough sleepers can get a meal through Soulfood mobile canteen based at the New Covenant Church and advice and help through a support service offered one day a week in the church.

Dr Barker said the Hub, a registered charity, hoped to provide more accommodation to expand the range and frequency of services.

She added: "That is likely to take perhaps three to six months. There's a lot of organisation involved and we must have a strong committee in place first."

John Pollard, treasurer of WIRS, said he was confident the change was for the best.

The charity was registered in December 2006 after a meeting in 2004. He said the initial aim had been to raise funds so that services could be provided. But changes including key people moving away from the area and a call by some supporters to provide services as well as fundraising led to the decision to wind up the charity.

The funds have been transferred to the Hub with a guarantee that they will be used solely for the benefit of rough sleepers in Weymouth and Portland and the surrounding villages.

Donations and collections for WIRS should be sent to the Hub for its designated fund as WIRS is no longer accepting money.

Dr Barker said around eight people used the Hub every day for lunch and other services. The number had reduced over the past 18 months due to a policy of focusing on genuine rough sleepers working to resolve their problems, newly homed former rough sleepers who were vulnerable and needed support, and temporary wayfarers moving through the town.

She said between 10 and 20 rough sleepers a day used the Soulfood canteen.