A glimmer of hope shines for the homeless community in Lincoln, as Homer House on Sibthorp Street gears up for a significant transformation. The building, which currently serves as a House of Multiple Occupancy (HMO), has been granted permission to convert into a temporary refuge for those with nowhere else to go. This move aims to alleviate the growing homeless crisis in the city by bridging the gap between homelessness and permanent accommodation.
The development, spearheaded by Lincolnshire Employment Accommodation Project Ltd (LEAP), a social housing provider, will entail the conversion of the property into 34 flats. LEAP, which assists individuals at risk of homelessness, intends to make Homer House a more effective solution to the escalating demand for emergency housing.
Homer House, nestled in the residential area of Sincil Bank near the lower High Street, currently provides 18 en-suite bedrooms and shared kitchen facilities for the homeless. The new design will enhance these provisions, offering more spacious and private facilities to its residents.
The transformation, green-lit by the City of Lincoln Council’s planning department, will also see parts of the building currently employed by the NHS and LEAP undergo a revamp. This project has secured funding from Homes England.
Originally erected in 1973 as offices for a local car parts company, Homer House is set to play a pivotal role in the city’s fight against homelessness. Over the final quarter of 2023 alone, a staggering 328 individuals flagged up as at risk of homelessness approached the council. These numbers are more than double compared to the same period the previous year. Sadly, the council was only able to prevent a mere 36 per cent from being classified as homeless due to the city’s dire lack of accommodation. This development is a crucial step towards alleviating Lincoln’s homelessness crisis.
This story was adapted by The Lincoln Post from original reporting by www.lincolnshirelive.co.uk.
