Windsor Homeless Project at 73A Alma Road. Photo via Google.
Windsor Homeless Project is seeking permission to add emergency overnight homeless shelter to its base to protect ‘lives at risk’ from cold weather.
There are ‘no emergency homeless shelters’ in Windsor, the organisation says, hence the ‘desperate need’ for this.
Windsor Homeless Project (which is part of the charity Windsor Christian Action) seeks a change of use for the building at 73A Alma Road, its current base.
This building was originally a church hall for the adjacent Holy Trinity Vicarage.
For about 20 years, it was used by Alma Road Social Club as a member-only club with a bar and function room.
It was then turned into a bar open to the public, before being given permission for a change of use to a community hall/meeting place as of 2022.
The building was refurbished to open it up for ‘a range of community uses,’ with the primary aim of supporting homeless people, with services delivered via a partnership of local support organisations.
It has been a base of operations for Windsor Homeless Project’s sister projects, Windsor Foodshare and Windsor Street Angels.
The facility provides a base for storage of equipment for Street Angels as well as first aid and defibrillator training.
In addition, Windsor Homeless Project hosts drug and alcohol abuse counselling, life skills and employment training, and a café to provide lunch for the homeless.
The base is also used to hold fundraising events and can be hired by the community for functions.
This application seeks a further change of use, continuing as a community space providing these services but adding a use as an emergency night shelter.
A planning statement from Windsor Homeless Project reads: “There is a desperate need for emergency homeless accommodation with Windsor. There are currently no other emergency homeless shelters.
“As a result, lives are at risk especially during cold weather.”
The building is well equipped to provide emergency accommodation and ‘has all required services and facilities.’
The aim is ‘to work with a range of providers and the community to bring together a support hub for homeless individuals.’
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