Homeless project row

Jan 16 2009 by Gordon Bannerman, Perthshire Advertiser Friday

ANXIOUS parents have been given assurances that a Dundee Road project for homeless families won’t impact on Kinnoull Primary School.

At a meeting this week, Perth and Kinross Council officials addressed a wide range of concerns expressed following news that the adjacent Victorian mansion, Rio, was being converted to house up to eight families on a temporary basis, providing support and stability in their lives.

A question and answer paper is now circulating in the Kinnoull community.

The council has explained that current temporary accommodation is unsuitable for families and there is a pressing legal requirement to offer an alternative to emergency bed and breakfast.

The document stresses: “Accommodation will not be offered to single people or to households with known dependency issues.”

If an intensive assessment reveals drug or alcohol dependency issues or a history of anti-social behaviour they will not be offered accommodation at Rio.

The document adds: “Rio is being developed to provide stable supportive accommodation to reduce the impact of homelessness on children. We cannot offer that if there is a disruptive family negatively impacting on other residents and we would not allow that situation to continue.”

Internal work will start at Rio in the next few weeks with a completion date is pencilled in for the spring.

Children at Rio won’t be attending Kinnoull Primary and a taxi pick-up point will be arranged well away from the school entrance.

In a letter to today’s PA, Councillor Heather Stewart backs the initiative but is critical of a council communication breakdown.

She adds: “I find it quite extraordinary that the convener of Housing and Health, Councillor Peter Barrett, who is not normally shy of the limelight, has handled this so badly especially when it affects his own ward.

“This has caused unnecessary anxiety and concern among local residents who have not been given the full facts – this should be resolved at public meetings planned for the next few weeks where officers will be on hand to reassure the community.”

Councillor Barrett told the PA: “Councillor Heather Stewart’s wholehearted support for the Rio project is appreciated as is the backing given by all the local ward councillors.

“I am at a loss to understand her criticism of me personally. I have made it abundantly clear that improving the quality of the council’s homeless service and tackling the current gaps in service is my top priority.

She added: “We are four or five months ahead of the time that Rio will provide temporary accommodation to homeless families in Perth and we are also in advance of work commencing on site.

“I and council officers from housing and education met parents earlier this week to inform them of the plans for Rio and respond to their concerns.”