PROGRESS can now be seen on building work for the major extension to the Trinity Centre in Winchester.

The charity is building flats for clients of the drop-in centre on Durngate. The reopening of the public car park following the completion of the flood defence scheme has revealed the state of play.

The work started in the autumn on building 12 flats for the homeless and is set to open in May.

UnderOneRoof@trinity will comprise ‘flatlets’ offered on a Housing First basis for people most in need who are rough-sleeping repeatedly in Winchester. The flatlets will have ensuite bathrooms to reduce the risk of cross-infection from Covid-19, or future pandemics. Trinity aims to build up to supporting 25 rough-sleeping people annually plus 150 non-residents receiving therapeutic support in the community.

It has been described by Homeless Link as one of the first “congregate Housing First schemes” developed in the UK – with high quality accommodation complemented by all the facilities of Trinity’s purpose-built day centre. Residents will be part of a therapeutic community within a psychologically informed environment and offered individualised person-centred support with in-house medical, mental health, counselling and learning programmes providing the opportunity for transformational life change.

Trinity Winchester’s chief executive Sue McKenna said: “We are so encouraged every day to watch the progress of the building coming to life. It has been a longterm ambition to be able to give a safe supported home to those in need and with the help of all our supporters in the community, this is now becoming a reality.”

The cost of the scheme is £1.5 million. Following the initial lead gift of £500,000 from the Deflog VQ Trust, funding for the project was raised mainly through other trusts and foundations.

– with major grants from previous supporters including the Bradbury Foundation, Edward Gostling Foundation, Garfield Weston Foundation and the Band and Linbury Trusts. New supporters included the Syder Foundation, CHK Foundation and the Stephen Gordon Catto Charitable Trust. Trinity received two grants totalling £75,000 from Winchester City Council plus major support from corporate and individual donors.

Councillor Kelsie Learney, Winchester City Council’s Cabinet Member for Housing and Asset Management said “UnderOneRoof@trinity will be a fantastic addition to Winchester’s social housing provision, which we are delighted to support. Trinity Winchester continues to be a key partner in our drive to help people who are homeless in the District, often through circumstances beyond their control”.

UnderOneRoof@trinity is being built by local contractors Bentley Projects Ltd from Colden Common. The architect is Hyphen – who designed the original day centre, and the new building is being designed to complement the original structure. Designed with “green” principles in mind, the new accommodation is being built using a Structural Insulated Panel (SIP) system – a highly insulated shell with solarPV on the roof which will supply electricity for both the new accommodation and our current day centre.

UnderOneRoof@trinity is scheduled to open in May 2021.