Salvation Army get green light for emergency family homes

Friday 16 June 2023

The Salvation Army has been given the green light to create three units of short-term accommodation for families facing homelessness.

The Minden Street-based church and charity applied to Planning to renovate an existing cottage and convert an unused office and floor above the ground-floor shop.

Explaining why the temporary accommodation was needed, the organisation said: “The Salvation Army in Jersey has supported people with varying needs – economic, emotional, physical and spiritual – for more than 140 years, and in recent times, especially, has begun to work closely with families who identify increasingly as struggling to make ends meet and living in poor accommodation with rising rental costs.

“The need for food banks and other practical support has risen as people face an ever-higher cost of living and The Salvation Army has identified that, specifically, there is a need for short-term housing for families who might be in transition and even facing homelessness.

“We are also aware of some of the very difficult conditions under which some families are living, including sub-standard accommodation.”

Pictured: The three units will surround a central courtyard, which the charity hopes will provide "inspiring external amenity space" which is "hidden away from the 'hustle and bustle' of the busy town centre. (Godel Architects)

It added: “Now the church and charity organisation are turning its attention to refurbishing and making use of some cottages at the rear of the Minden Street complex which have lain unused for years, to provide housing for families in crisis. 

“This will be a temporary solution for families, with support to help give them a safe starting point from which to build their futures.

“The plan is to renovate the existing cottage and convert an unused office and floors above the shop to provide three units – short-term homely family accommodation which could suit a number of different situations and family sizes.

“The family housing provision will be underpinned by the wider holistic support of The Salvation Army, which for over 150 years has worked and supported homeless and vulnerable people across the world, as well as the local experience.

“This will include the appointment of a support worker based in Minden Street, whose role will be to provide one-to-one and family support, developed to meet the needs of the individual.”

Planning permission comes with a number of conditions applied, including noise limits during construction and the need to get the drainage plan approved.