A FORMER town centre church at Warrington, which later served as magistrates courts, could take on a new role – as an emergency night shelter for the homeless.
Drug or alcohol abusers, victims of domestic abuse, people who have been evicted from their homes or victims of house repossession could be accommodated temporarily at Patten Hall, in Winmarleigh Street.
Warrington-based charity openingdoors (north west) ltd has submitted a planning application to the borough council to change the use of the building.
The charity’s existing short term lease is coming to an end and the building is, in any case, no longer considered fit for purpose.
Patten Hall was originally a church. But in later years it was used as a post office sorting office and then as an overflow magistrates’ court. It has been standing empty for some time.
Openingdoors provide emergency overnight accommodation to a wide range of vulnerable people aged 18 plus, including those who may have been evicted from their family home, had their homes repossessed or been made redundant during the economic downturn, have mental health, drug or alcohol issues or been a victim of domestic abuse – to name but a few circumstances.
Trinity Church, owners of the building, fully support openingdoors and is sensitive to the needs of the service user group.
Externally, the building will not alter. The changes will be in the form of improved internal facilities such as individual ‘pods’ for up to 10 people, IT facilities that will help people look for work or permanent housing, laundry facilities, showers, etc.
The night shelter service has been delivered by openingdoors on a formal basis since 2002 and benefits many people who need a helping hand to get off the streets and back on their feet. With support and encouragement from openingdoors, service users often go on to live independently within the community.
Thousands of people since 2002 by providing emergency accommodation and a variety of support services ensuring vulnerable people do not “slip through the net” and without it they would have found it very difficult to make positive changes to their lives.
openingdoors and it’s service users are relying heavily upon the application being approved as currently there are no other options available to them, other than to close. This would mean there would be a lack of essential and much needed services for vulnerable and homeless people in Warrington.
