New homeless unit opens in South Lanarkshire

A NEW unit for homeless people in Rutherglen and Cambuslang opened in Halfway last week. For South Lanarkshire Council and the Salvation Army joined forces to create the new service at the Eva Burrows Centre.

South Lanarkshire Council’s housing and technical resources committee and the Salvation Army’s Trustee Company recently gave the go-ahead for the joint venture in Halfway.

The unit is created at a time when the number of people finding themselves homeless is on the increase, and the new partnership will improve the options available to provide temporary accommodation and support to homeless households.

The new service will provide short-term accommodation and support for 32 homeless people with low support needs from Cambuslang, Rutherglen and Halfway.

The development of this service will also help sustain the older people’s day centre, which will remain on-site and will continue to serve the community as normal.

Households who will use this facility would often otherwise need to be accommodated in bed and breakfast accommodation. This new facility will help eliminate the use of unsuitable bed and breakfast accommodation and reduce the drain on council resources. It is expected that savings of £250,000 will be made each year.

The Salvation Army has significant experience of operating similar facilities elsewhere and South Lanarkshire Council is confident of a successful service being provided at the Eva Burrows Centre.

South Lanarkshire Council and the Salvation Army, by creating the first stop accommodation, have made 18 new jobs.

South Lanarkshire Council Leader Eddie McAvoy said: “A lot of people are finding themselves homeless because of the credit crunch and family breakdown. Anyone could find themselves in this situation.

“Between 50 and 60 people each month present as homeless in the area and the council has a statutory duty to help. The accommodation at the Eva Burrows Centre will be exclusively for referrals from the council. We have to provide suitable temporary accommodation within our area – not bed and breakfast.

“We are working in partnership with the Salvation Army to provide temporary accommodation for homeless people in the area.

“By working in partnership with the Salvation Army on this project we also will be able to secure the long-term future of the older people’s day centre run by the Salvation Army for Social Work on the same site.”

The Salvation Army’s West Scotland Divisional Commander Major Victor Kennedy said: “Since the residential wing of the Eva Burrows Centre closed in 2006, the Salvation Army’s research and development team has been actively searching for alternative uses for the main building.

“In May 2009, South Lanarkshire Council presented a proposal for short-stay accommodation. The possibility of a partnership approach was an idea that fitted perfectly with our mission to meet the immediate presenting need for those who seek shelter, board or comfort.

“We are committed to delivering a first-class service and look forward to working in partnership with South Lanarkshire Council.”

A number of guests attended the official opening last Thursday afternoon, including Lieutenant Colonel Ian Barr, territorial secretary for the programme.

Also joining them were Major Jim Bryden, chaplain of the Eva Burrows Centre, Commissioner Elizabeth Matear, territorial president of women’s ministries, and Commissioner John Matear, territorial commander of the United Kingdom Territory with the Republic of Ireland.

Also on hand at the opening was South Lanarkshire chief executive Archie Strang, who said: “In South Lanarkshire Council, we take seriously our duty to provide temporary accommodation for people who find themselves homeless. As time has gone by, this has become an increasing challenge to us.

“Increasing numbers of people are becoming homeless through the vagaries of life – family background, financial circumstances – worsened by the national economic downturn, although we are told that statistics are improving.

“We have tried to reduce our reliance on bed and breakfast accommodation in our efforts to find suitable temporary accommodation for homeless people – with modest success. We have recently commissioned a number of ‘first stop’ and supported accommodation projects across South Lanarkshire.

“For a number of years, we have acknowledged the need for this sort of facility in the Cambuslang and Rutherglen area – particularly following the closure of Blairtum Park House in Rutherglen.

“We in the council are delighted to have this opportunity to work in partnership with the Salvation Army to provide ‘first stop’ accommodation at the Eva Burrows Centre.

“This is a much-needed facility and will provide a very high standard of temporary accommodation and a quality service to individuals at a difficult time of their life, and it continues a high level of investment by the council in homeless accommodation.

“I know this joint venture will provide 32 short-term accommodation places with support for homeless people. It has also helped to secure the long-term future of the older persons day centre run by the Salvation Army for social work resources here at Eva Burrows.

“We recognise the vast experience of The Salvation Army in this field and look forward to working together to serve the local community in the coming years.”

Commissioner John Matear, who unveiled the plaque to officially declare the centre open, added: “It’s a fact that the Salvation Army do want to become involved with this local community, that we’re serious about investing in this area.

“We want to have an established and developing presence here, and this first stop programme confirms all of that.

“I hope that this will be a place of safety for our service-users, where they will have a sense of self-worth, and understand they are loved and valued by God.

“We will treat them with dignity and respect, and believe there will be good and positive outcomes in their lives.”

The opening ceremony was completed with a prayer of dedication from Colonel Brian Peddle.

Local residents were kept informed of the proposals and representatives from South Lanarkshire Council and the Salvation Army met with the local community council to discuss the centre during the planning stage.

Also on hand for the opening on Thursday was Cambuslang East Labour councillor Richard Tullett.

He said: “Today is my birthday, and I’m delighted to be sharing it with the start of this project.

“I know the Salvation Army will do well and make sure it’s a place of peace and hope for the people that come into it.

“I’m aware there have been concerns from the local community about this project starting up, but I hope that any concerns raised beforehand will be quickly allayed, as the centre has been up and running for five weeks now, in a quiet but very professional way, to the benefit of everybody in the area.

“I hope that it will continute to go from strength to strength, working with the Salvation Army and the council.”