Today, we proudly opened the doors to Hewmar House, a brand-new supported housing scheme offering a lifeline to vulnerable young people at risk of homelessness. Designed to provide not only safe and secure accommodation but also vital support services, Hewmar House marks a significant step forward in tackling youth homelessness in the city.
With customers set to move in next week, visitors were given a first look at the scheme’s eight bright, comfortable rooms, each thoughtfully furnished and ready to welcome their new occupants. Following his visit, Gloucester City Council’s Cabinet Member for Housing, Luke Shervey, said: “We’re delighted to see this project now open and able to provide much needed support to local young people who sometimes can fall through the gaps. Homelessness is a tragedy at any age but particularly for young people, so it’s vital that they get this tailored help early on so they can get their lives back on track and look forward to a better future.“
Funded by the Single Homeless Accommodation Programme (SHAP), this £1.34 million scheme was developed in collaboration with Gloucester City Council, housing experts, and charities. The service will not only provide accommodation but also essential life skills, mental health support, and pathways to education, training, and employment.
GCH’s Director of Housing Operations, Natalie Thelwell said: “It’s a testament to the power of strong partnership working just how much we’ve managed to achieve in such a short time. We worked very closely in partnership with Gloucester City Council on a thorough gap analysis which helped secure the funding for this much-needed scheme. We started the bid only 18 months ago and to be here opening Hewmar House today is a proud moment for everyone involved.”
The Transformation
Once a vacant and derelict office building, Hewmar House underwent extensive refurbishment by our contractors Aqua Construction. Key improvements included underpinning external walls, installing a new roof, adding external wall insulation, rewiring the entire property, and equipping it with solar panels for sustainable energy use.