NEW CARDIFF HOSTEL SET TO TRANSFORM LIVES OF HOMELESS PEOPLE

20 Jan 2006 04:15 PM

A new £2.7m hostel for up to 26 homeless families in Cardiff will be officially opened by Social Justice Minister Edwina Hart at 1 pm on Friday 20 January 2006.

Nightingale House, on Newport Road, has 56 beds and will be staffed 24 hours a day. Family rooms are en-suite and most other rooms have their own bathrooms, including one room fully equipped for wheelchair users. Rooms have private cooking areas or access to larger shared kitchens and there is also a separate halal kitchen area.

The centre has play areas for children, a large common room and internet access to allow people to develop their skills and training and re-enter employment.

Nightingale House was allocated £2,093,000 in Social Housing Grant from the Welsh Assembly Government with the remaining £607,000 from private finances and project work from Barclays Bank. Cardiff Council is providing funding for work with residents including support workers and community education.

Edwina Hart said: "This exciting new facility provides good quality supportive accommodation for homeless families. It is a much better alternative for homeless individuals than Bed and Breakfast accommodation, and the services available here could make the crucial difference in helping people re-build their lives and gain their own independence again. Bed & Breakfast accommodation is expensive and has detrimental effects on health and well-being of households which is why we are focussing our efforts on preventing homelessness wherever possible.

"Our revised National Homelessness Strategy which I launched in November lists the importance of improved joint working and support, greater political priority locally, strong strategic planning and greater emphasis on the prevention of homelessness.

"I am very pleased to see that Nightingale House satisfies our goals in all these areas and is also designed in accordance with equality and diversity needs of the community."

20 January 2006

NOTES

The hostel was a former nursing home and is now owned and run by Cadwyn Housing Association in partnership with Cardiff County Council. Cadywn Housing Association operates and leases approximately 1,100 good quality properties in Cardiff. For more information contact 01453 821500. The official opening event is between 1pm - 2.15pm on Friday 20 January. Edwina Hart will officially open Nightingale House at approximately 1.15pm