FOR 20 years Winchester Churches Nightshelter has provided crisis accommodation to homeless people.

Now it is branching out with a housing project in memory of former resident, Ben Blyth.

Ben’s House will soon become home to four former Nightshelter residents.

The supported housing project is dedicated to Ben, who died in 2010 aged 33. He suffered from a complex and incurable mental health condition and spent months living homeless, receiving support from local agencies including the Nightshelter.

The house has been funded by a donation from the military charity the DEFLOG VQ Trust, founded by Ben’s father, Brigadier Tom Blyth. It was wound down after 20 years of providing qualifications to military personnel across the world and, as a result, a £1 million bequest was given to Winchester’s two homelessness charities, the Nightshelter and Trinity Winchester.

The new project will enable residents who are ready to move on from the 17-bed Nightshelter on Jewry Street the chance to access affordable accommodation.

Michele Price, Nightshelter manager, said: “Our new rental home for independent living has only been made possible by the incredible generosity of the DEFLOG VQ Trust. At a time of funding cuts to the homelessness sector, it’s more important than ever for charities like ours to provide an effective pathway out of homelessness for the vulnerable and socially excluded.

“Our support doesn’t stop when people leave the shelter – in some ways, that’s when the real challenges begin for many of our residents, so by extending our services to offer supported move-on accommodation, we can prevent more people slipping back into homelessness.”

The Nightshelter now provides two rental homes for independent living, bringing the number of move-on bed spaces to eight.

Nightshelter staff and supporters, including Ben’s parents Brigadier Blyth and Sylvie and son Alex, gathered at the house, located outside Winchester, to unveil a plaque.