24 Jul 2023
A unique life-saving haven for homeless men is at risk of closure due to the property being sold by the landlord.
Hope House was set up in September 2021 – after four years of planning – by St Albans Action for Homeless, a charity run by two local women with a passion to end homelessness in St Albans.
The home assists vulnerable residents to live an addiction-free lifestyle and provides access to appropriate services. Sharon Linney and Lynn Dutton work on a voluntary basis to run the scheme and the rent is paid for through residents’ Housing Benefit.
The owner of the Wheathampstead property had contacted Sharon and Lynn following an appeal on social media, and they furnished it entirely through donations to the St Albans & Harpenden Reuse Project Facebook page. Now it is going to be put up for sale for £400,000, putting the future of Hope House in doubt.
Sharon and Lynn said: “The news has hit us all hard. The men’s anxiety and mental health issues have been impacted because this is their safe haven and the uncertainty is upsetting for us all.”
The dream is for the tiny charity be able to buy the four-bedroom terrace, former council home from the private seller, but this will require a whopping £200,000 deposit which the charity simply does not have.
Sharon added : “Our lease is up in September. We have asked for an extension to try and raise funds for a deposit and secure our tenants’ future.
“We have got until March 2024 when the owner will reassess his financial situation.
“Our fundraising team have events in the pipeline but a group of us is doing a sleepout in September outside Marks & Spencer. We would appreciate any support anybody feels able to give.”
You can donate to the campaign here: https://tinyurl.com/Hope-House
