Press Release

4th December 2009

Alabaré secures nearly £4 million for the redevelopment of Damascus House

Alabaré has secured nearly £4 million pounds towards the redevelopment of Damascus House, its homeless hostel in Salisbury.

Earlier this year Alabaré was given the green light to demolish the existing 33 bed hostel and replace it with one that is more environmentally friendly and better equipped to meet the needs of homeless and vulnerable people.  Emmaus House, which is attached to Damascus House, will also be converted into move on flats for people making the transition from supported accommodation to independent living. 

In September it was announced that £1.2 million had been awarded to the development by Places of Change via Wiltshire Council, and a further £500,000 from Wiltshire Council.

The Homes and Community Agency has just confirmed they will award more than £2 million towards the project.  This takes the total secured to almost £4 million and completes the amount of statutory funding required for building work to begin.

Cllr John Brady (Portfolio Holder) says: 

"Wiltshire Council is pleased to financially assist and support the redevelopment of Damascus House. The Council recognised this as a key project to support the ambitions of Wiltshire by providing an opportunity to improve the existing services offered to homeless people. We will now be working closely with Alabare and Westlea Housing Association to work towards start on site early in 2010."

Arrangements are now being made to appropriately re-home the current Damascus House residents within other Alabaré projects.  

Building work is set to begin early next year with a completion date of early 2011. 

The designs for the new Damascus House allow for improved accommodation and new training facilities, recycling of grey water and maximising of daylight to reduce energy demands and costs. The building will also be more in keeping visually with its locality in Barnard Street.

Alabaré Chief Executive Andrew Lord says “We are delighted to have secured the final part of the capital funding from The Homes Community Agency, which was a combined effort between Alabaré, Westlea Housing Association, Wiltshire Council and many others.  With all of the required funding in place work should begin in early 2010.”

He added “The outcome will be an excellent facility for homeless people, providing not just good quality accommodation but also support to access training and employment. The new project will make a big difference to ending the cycle of homelessness in Salisbury.”

A further fundraising appeal will be launched next year to help meet the costs of the equipment needed for the new hostel.