Britain has a homelessness problem. In 2023, Shelter reported that “ 2.2 million renters would be immediately unable to pay their rent from their savings if they lost their job.” The BBC recently reported that rising rents would also cause many to become homeless, especially while the Local Housing Allowance (LHA) remains frozen.
Nobody would want to deny housing to homeless people, veterans or otherwise, but when there is a proposal to house people in their area, the objections start; local people may feel there is a threat to the community.
Southport plan for homeless people raises objections
An empty hotel in Southport, the Salfordian, was earmarked to become a house of multiple occupancy (HMO) for the homeless. The hotel is owned by Salford Council, who have offered it for sale to Sefton Council. It was previously in use as a holiday experience for residents and their carers.
But local people objected to the plans. They felt that any future plans to house people in the hotel would ‘irrecoverably’ change the area. One group of local families, who wished to remain anonymous, said:
This building would almost certainly be used for single adult men, including ex-offenders and those with complex needs, placed here before proper risk assessments are complete.
A valuable chance to reduce rough sleeping in Sefton
The officer presenting the report on the possible purchase said the proposal to purchase the Salfordian gives the council a ‘valuable opportunity’ to increase its supply of temporary accommodation for eligible Sefton households. The officer added:
Here in Sefton, we continue to experience a rise in homelessness. The number of households in temporary accommodation has risen sharply, driven by factors such as an increase in demand for accommodation and a lack of suitable supply.
The homelessness and rough sleeping strategy was agreed following the public consultation and it sets out the council’s duties and responsibilities in meeting this challenge and to support this activity.
In February 2025 the council approved an allocation of £1mn in capital to support the homelessness support service in delivering solutions such as buying and refurbishing premises that are assessed as suitable for temporary accommodation.
Concerned locals may not know the full picture
Councillor Liz Dowd said:
Some people have raised concerns over what they think is going to happen to the building and who may live there temporarily. Indeed, some of the concerns have indicated that just because someone is homeless, that that presents some sort of threat to the community.
She continued:
People find themselves in a homeless situation due to a combination of factors in life that often interact with one another and often intensify. For example, these could include relationship breakdown with a partner, family or friends they are living with, evictions, landlords wishing to sell the houses they are renting.
We’ve seen a huge rise in Section 21 evictions, victims of domestic abuse, usually women, who literally have nowhere to go to escape their perpetrator, adding that rising rents and lack of affordable housing also contribute to the problem.
Finally Dowd pointed out that
Our Armed Forces [are] returning to civilian life, … who may have been suffering from PTSD or some other trauma related condition.
“These are the people we are talking about. Homeless people are friends and family. ‘There but for the grace of God go we’
.
Plan for homeless veterans in Crosby is challenged
A Grade II listed 19th century villa is set to be converted into supported living accommodation for Armed Forces veterans. Nazareth House on Liverpool Road, Crosby, was most recently used as a children’s home until it closed in 2013. Permission has been secured for the change of use of Nazareth Villa from a children’s home to supported living accommodation for homeless veterans. The property is situated between two high schools, and residential properties surround the wider site.
A petition containing 27 signatures was submitted in objection to the proposed planning application, which was endorsed by Councillor Leslie Byrom. 140 objections were submitted from 122 individual addresses and a total of 13 objections were lodged from 11 individual addresses.
The council report said the objections related to a range of concerns and the committee invited local resident, Joseph Walsh to lodge his group’s opposition to the application.
Worries about the mental health and drug or alcohol use of the veterans
Addressing the chamber, Mr Walsh said:
Placing this accommodation within such close proximity [to local schools] raises very serious safeguarding concerns.
The applicant states that this development is to be carefully managed, a step-down facility for Armed Force veterans reintegrating into the community. However, other documentation refers to drug and alcohol rehabilitation. These two models entail materially different risk profiles, for both residents and nearby children.
Speaking in support of the application was John Simms, the executive director of property for Nugent Care, who said:
Our intention is to use the property as supported living accommodation for former veterans who’ve experienced homelessness and are on the path to transition into their own permanent residence, and employability options and opportunities which they’ll be supported in finding.
He explained that previous plans included ‘crisis units’, but the present plan is not to provide for drug and alcohol rehabilitation; there is a provision for that in Liverpool city centre.
He continued:
The block will be for low level, low support requirement, people who are transitioning towards the next chapter in their life.
The planning committee unanimously voted to approve the scheme at Nazareth House, with Nugent Care indicating work could start on development in the next 18 months.
Not near me?
It’s clear that local people will always have concerns about development plans but we have to address the question: If we don’t want our homeless to get accommodation near us, where will they go? Objectors need to understand the full picture: these are ordinary people who have encountered problems and need help getting back on their feet.
After two press releases by Local Democracy reported Elliot Jessett.
