Bristol: New homeless shelter for young people to be built

The scheme will support young people at risk of homelessness

A homelessness charity is to provide a space for short-term accommodation for young adults at risk.

Bristol City Centre Business Improvement District (BID) says TAP for Bristol, which involves contactless donation points, will fund the new Z-House project from Caring in Bristol.

Caring in Bristol will renovate its office space to make the accommodation.

Vicky Lee, head of the BID said the centre will provide young people "specific, tailored support."

The TAP initiative, launched in 2019, aims to help Bristol's homelessness and has raised approximately £25,000 per year on average through the contactless donation points, JustGiving Page and business donations.

TAP is delivered by Bristol City Centre BID in partnership with Caring in Bristol and supported by the Redcliffe & Temple BID.

Bristol City Centre BID says 50% of future donations raised via TAP for Bristol will provide funding for the new Z-House shelter for people aged 18 to 25.

The contactless donation points are places across Bristol

The remaining 50% of all donations will be available for local homeless charities to apply for.

Ms Lee said: "It's important that we acknowledge that there is a crisis of homelessness.

"The Z-House Project is an amazing project that we are very proud to be a part of."

She added it will provide young people with "practical skills and opportunities" to help them find permanent housing.

The shelter will offer two beds for longer term use of up to three months and two rooms for emergency short-term use.

50% of donations raised through TAP points will now fund a new shelter

Ian Byworth CEO at Caring in Bristol, said: "The solution to homelessness in our city lies in the joining-up of contributions from across the city.

"This new youth shelter is one such example; providing much needed accommodation and support for young people facing homelessness - all made possible from the backing, donations and volunteering that others have provided."

TAP for Bristol has allowed Caring in Bristol to launch and expand its Homelessness Prevention Programme.

It has directly supporting 1,187 people in Bristol communities, and helping them to move their lives away from homelessness.

First West of England has recently joined the TAP initiative, with a point installed at the city's main bus station on Marlborough Street and another one at Tesco Express in Broadmead.

Bristol Bus and Coach Station's Operations Manager, Carole Stevens said: "The TAP panel at Bristol's Bus and Coach Station will now give the 30,000 people who pass through the station every day a quick and easy way to donate £3 to tackling homelessness."