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1. NEW CARE HOME COMPLETED
St Martins House in Westwick Street, Norwich has
been a key project for the Trust since it opened in
1990. It has been home to generations of single
homeless people.
However, in order to meet Government regulations brought
in in 2000 (St Martins House is a registered care home)
the building had to be completely refurbished.
Following a period of intensive fund-raising and
planning the construction project began in Autumn 2006
and was completed in April 2008. The project
provides 22 en-suite bedrooms and communal facilities for
single homeless people with "dual diagnosis" (mental
health and substance misuse issues) is due to complete
early Spring 2008. In a departure from established
policy residents are able to consume alcohol under
supervision in part of the Home.
The Trust now hope to complete re-development of the
site by refurbishing the bedroom block into a
Health Resource Centre in conjunction with the Norfolk
Primary Care Trust. The site will then provide an
extensive range of primary health care services for
homeless and vulnerably housed single people.
The new Home is called "Highwater House" (following
resident consultation).
Due to the generosity of church groups, community
groups, schools and individuals the Trust was able to
raise £50,000 in order to furnish and equip the Home.
(Posted
12 June 2008)
2. HISTORY OF ST. MARTINS HOUSING TRUST
St Martins Housing Trust started life as the Norwich Night Shelter Project. The original
Night Shelter at St. James Church on Barrack Street opened in 1972 opened in response to the
growing problem of homelessness in Norwich.
In spite of the very basic amenities, the Night shelter was in ever increasing demand and within
a few years new premises were needed to cope with the swelling numbers of residents. In 1976 the
shelter relocated to St. Martin at Oak, a redundant church on Oak Street, which has been its
home ever since.
From this point on the project gradually began to grow into the network of services the Trust
provides today. Complementary services have developed in response to the changing needs and
expectations of single homeless people requiring shelter.
The Trust aims not only to provide a bed for the night but also to tackle the underlying
problems associated with homelessness, such as drug and alcohol problems, mental health issues,
relationship breakdown and unemployment.
3. CURRENT SERVICES TO SINGLE HOMELESS PEOPLE
Please see our Services section.
4. WHY WE NEED FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR THE NEW "HIGHWATER
HOUSE"
St. Martins House was conceived in the late 1980’s as a much better physical environment for
single homeless people than the Night Shelter. The Trust raised much of the costs of the
building through it’s own fund-raising efforts. Financial constraints during the project’s
development led to design compromises which, whilst sensible at the time, now mean that
registration under the Care Standards Act will be withdrawn unless we improve the facilities. In
fact the project was not conceived as a registered care home but the care required by residents
made it necessary for the Trust to seek that status.
Even more important than the need to improve the facilities are the challenges posed by the
current generation of residents. The Trust does not feel able it is meeting the diverse needs
exhibited by residents in such a large Home.
5. WHO WILL BENEFIT?
Whilst it may appear we are fund-raising for a declining facility (33 beds reduced to
22) in
fact the project is part of larger strategy to lift the quality of all our service provision to
the single homeless in Norwich. It is likely that the first residents of the new
22 bed facility
will be from the existing group of residents – those who still need the care and support that a
specialist registered care home, designed around their needs, can provide. However, the Trust’s
other services, including its accommodation services, will seek to provide the needs of existing
residents of St. Martins House who will not return to the facility once the building work is
completed. In both cases the Trust’s policy is to design programmes for individuals which
promote self-help, independence and feelings of self-worth.
9. ATTACHMENTS
>>Report and Financial Statements for year ending March
2007
ENQUIRIES
Derek Player
General Manager
St. Martins Housing Trust
35, Bishopgate,
NORWICH
NR1 4AA
Tel: (01603) 667706
derek.player@stmartinshousing.org.uk
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