Charity launches £2m bid to turn its HQ into accommodation for the homeless

A homelessness charity in Nottingham is looking to covert two floors of its headquarters into emergency accommodation for vulnerable people.

The two floors of Emmanuel House Support Centre’s Nottingham base are currently used by the charity for offices, meeting rooms as well as a reception and kitchen area.

But under the £2m plan, submitted to Nottingham City Council, it wants to repurpose the space to create 20 bedrooms and 24-hour support for homeless people, as part of its mission to reduce rough sleeping in the city.

Also included in the plan is spaces for one-to-one support, common rooms, computer suites and disabled access.

The charity has decided to repurpose its own office space after struggling to find a suitable site in Nottingham to provide temporary accommodation.

It also runs a winter shelter at an empty University of Nottingham building.

Today, on #WorldHomelessnessDay, we are submitting plans to Nottingham City Council for change of use to our 1st & 2nd floors. We want to create 20 bedrooms to provide short-term emergency accommodation for people who find themselves homeless.

Read more: https://t.co/CzaJV0YSP9
— EMMANUEL HOUSE (@emmanuel_house_) October 10, 2022

“Our ambition is to reduce the number of people who are homeless in Nottingham city for the benefit of individual people, the neighbourhood and for the City of Nottingham as a whole,” said Emmanuel House chief executive Denis Tully.

“The project fits with the city’s strategic plan to tackle homelessness. It will make a significant contribution to year-round emergency respite care.

“We have a new vision for Emmanuel House and for Nottingham’s provision to support some of its most vulnerable people.

“Our purpose as an organisation is to tackle isolation, vulnerability, and homelessness within our community. This project is an extension of this mission.”