Opposition to homeless hostel 29/12/10
Some Stornoway residents are opposed to locating a temporary accommodation hostel in their neighbourhood.
Western isles Council highlights the facility is desperately needed as over 200 people a year are officially homeless in the islands. Officials warn these figures are set to rise.
Western Isles Council data shows that half the cases are caused by relationship breakdown within families.
There is an increase in women, some who are pregnant, finding themselves without a roof over their heads.
Others have lost their home because of financial problems or having lost their job and can’t afford their mortgage or rent.
Many homeless people are put up in Bed and Breakfast accommodation because of the lack of an accommodation until.
Householders in Olivers Brae and Marybank, where Allt na Broige and the old dormitory site are being considered, are against building the unit in their neighbourhood.
Now the local authority will widen the site search to other localities as well to
construct a 20-
Householders said they understood the need for the accommodation unit and acknowledged the dire problem of homelessness in the islands. But they insisted it should be built somewhere else.
Community feedback voiced fears over the safety of children, the elderly and single people and felt the unit was too big to be located in a residential area. Critics felt homeless clients with drink, drug and social issues would cause problems.
A council spokesperson said the council was expected to make a final decision in three months, after investigating “further possible sites for consideration for the shared temporary accommodation unit, along with all those sites previously identified.”