Somerset charity to buy houses for rough sleepers

Julian House homeless charity had hoped to build modular homes for rough sleepers in Glastonbury.

A Somerset homeless charity is looking to buy four houses to accommodate rough sleepers.

Julian House plans to buy existing homes to support homeless people in the Mendip area after its plans for a new facility in Glastonbury were refused.

The charity applied in November 2023 to build four one-bedroom ‘move on’ units in the car park of St. Edmund’s Community Hall in Glastonbury.

Somerset Council’s planning committee voted to refuse permission in early June, arguing it would damage the hall’s viability and put nearby residents at risk.

Julian House chief executive Helen Bedser says the charity is now looking for more land.

The charity, which provides support to around 2,000 people every year, has now revealed it is buying up four properties to provide supported accommodation.

Each property will provide accommodation for single homeless people, who will be provided a support worker.

Residents are expected to stay for one to two years before moving to their own homes.

Up to £740,000 towards the cost of acquiring the properties will be provided by Homes England – funding originally been earmarked for the Glastonbury site.

Julian House chief executive Helen Bedser said: “We understand local people’s concerns about the potential impact on their community.

“There will probably never be a ‘perfect’ site for this project – but it is our job to give a voice to, and advocate for, people who have been through the terrible experience of homelessness and rough sleeping."

Rough sleeping in Somerset has risen by 19 per cent in a single year, according to recent government figures.

Deputy prime minister Angela Rayner MP last week announced £10m of emergency funding to help local authorities provide direct support for the homeless this winter, on top of £233m in the Labour government’s first budget to tackle homelessness.

Somerset Council will receive £137,448 of this £10m allocation, but has not confirmed precisely how this will be spent in the coming weeks and months.

Ms Bedser said that she remained hopeful that modular housing could be delivered elsewhere in Somerset to help tackle homelessness.