Perth flats will be used by homeless

Sep 8 2009 by Johnathon Menzies, Perthshire Advertiser Tuesday

EMPTY residential flats in the centre of Perth are to be given to homeless people in a bid to fend-off a potential housing crisis.

Currently St Catherine’s Square, on the Fair City’s Old High Street, provides accommodation for mainstream tenants on secure tenancy agreements.

But a future meeting of Perth and Kinross Council’s housing and health committee will be asked to switch the management of the site from the city centre area housing office, to the local authority’s homeless services wing.

A spokesman for the council explained: “The accommodation at St Catherine’s has been identified as suitable for temporary accommodation stock.

“It’s mainly bedsit flats, which are not suitable for the majority of prospective tenants, and the properties have proved difficult to let.

“Available flats will be transferred to the management of council’s the homeless service, and away from the city central area housing office, as and when properties become vacant,” he said.

The spokesman told the PA that those currently living in St Catherine’s have been informed of the proposals and “no significant objections have been voiced.”

As part of this project, the buildings will be refurbished and new security systems are set to be installed, with a concierge taking care of the building’s management.

Councillor Peter Barrett, convener of the local authority’s housing and health committee described the move as “doubly good news”.

He said: “This will address both the severe shortage of accommodation with support for homeless people, as well as improving the performance of our currently empty properties.

“The project will further demonstrate concrete progress in our drive to improve accommodation and support for homeless people – and deliver on our commitment and priorities to this vulnerable group of people,” he said.

The issue returned to the spotlight recently after it was revealed one of Perth’s flagship homeless shelters, the Waverley Hotel, could be set to close after operators McKever Group – who are carrying debts of £70million – called in administrators.

A total of 1200 people apply for temporary accommodation in Perth and Kinross every year.