House opens for young adults at risk of homelessness

A house that will accommodate young people at risk of homelessness has been opened after a £1.3m renovation.

Hewmar House in Gloucester will provide rooms for eight adults aged between 18 and 25 from February.

The residents will be supported to develop essential life skills such as cooking and be given access to mental health support.

Housing association Gloucester City Homes, one of the organisations behind the scheme, said they wanted to give the residents "the best start".

"The young people have their own room, they have their own en suite and it's fully furnished," said Natalie Thelwell, director of housing operations at Gloucester City Homes.

"There's a fully functioning communal kitchen and living space and some break-out rooms as well so that they can work with their support worker. We've also got a nice garden."

The housing association worked with Gloucester City Council, housing experts and charities, to restore Hewmar House, which had been vacant for a number of years.

The refurbishment included underpinning external walls, installing a new roof and solar panels, adding external wall insulation, and rewiring.

Michelle White, the service lead at Hewmar House, said the residents will have "lots of opportunities to learn different skills" and will be helped to access education including possible pathways to university and college.

"We will also be teaching them cooking on a budget, spreading the cost and making a meal you can freeze. All those skills that we take for granted," she said.

"There's a whole world out there and we want to give them the best start that we can. I call it an independent life skills toolbox."

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