The council is finalising the refurbishment of the property, which was purchased for £1.7 million earlier this year. The exact location is being kept confidential to protect the privacy and safety of vulnerable residents, particularly those escaping domestic abuse.
Each of the 13 units is designed to accommodate a single household, whether a family or an individual. This expansion will increase the council's total temporary accommodation units to 77, reducing reliance on more costly and less suitable emergency bed and breakfast options.
“"We provide a lifeline to households across West Suffolk who have become homeless, working with them and supporting them in temporary accommodation, until they are ready to move into a home of their own. We also recognise it is important to support UK veterans, care leavers and people fleeing domestic abuse from other parts of the country and our temporary accommodation is also used to help them out of homelessness. All of this is about supporting individuals, couples and families at their time of greatest need."
Cllr Richard O’Driscoll, Cabinet Member for Housing, highlighted the council's ongoing investment in temporary accommodation as part of its Housing, Homelessness Reduction and Rough Sleeping Strategy. He emphasised the importance of both preventing homelessness and providing improved living conditions for those in need.
