Hope Street: Unique project for rough sleepers wins national award

Room in Hope Street

Last Wednesday, Caritas Anchor House won the Property Innovation award at the Charity Times Awards for its new accommodation project Hope Street. Hundreds of the people, including some of the biggest charities in the UK, turned up to celebrate the best in the sector at the London Marriott Hotel Grosvenor Square.

The award winning project, Hope Street, is a 15-room accommodation unit for people who have been rough sleeping in Newham, east London, where a staggering one in 22 people are currently experiencing homelessness. It was named 'Hope Street' by the residents at the charity Caritas Anchor House and has been built in a large unused warehouse.

Hope Street has the feel of a compact village with each room designed to empower its residents to feel a sense of ownership of both their home and their environment. As every individual is different and special, this has been reflected in the aesthetics, with each unit having a unique character. Each independent accommodation unit evokes the feeling of safety and tranquillity - a peaceful and secure haven to retreat to and call home.

The host of the Charity Times Awards said: "Hailed as beautiful, thoughtful, holistic and innovative, the judges were impressed with the level of care that has been taken to repurpose a warehouse for considerable impact."

Amanda Dubarry, Chief Executive of Caritas Anchor House said: "We are really proud to have designed and built such unique accommodation, which is transforming the lives of people who have experienced rough sleeping. With Hope Street we've made every effort to ensure each room has its own individual design, so that it feels unique to the person living there. We know that the challenge is not just to provide somewhere safe for the residents, but also to ensure they are ready for independent living when they leave here."

LINKS

Caritas Anchor House provides a home and support for people experiencing homelessness in Newham, east London. For more information see: www.caritasanchorhouse.org.uk/.

Follow this link for more information on Hope Street: www.caritasanchorhouse.org.uk/news/hope-street-opens