East Kilbride homeless unit closed as part of council reshuffle
Work is underway that will result in the closure of a controversial homeless unit in East Kilbride.
The South Lanarkshire Council (SLC) intends to move Lindsay House, based in the village, to “more suitable” premises, they say.
It will see the eventual closure of the unit which has provided short-term accommodation and support to those affected by homelessness for several years.
The Lanarkshire Live app is available for download now.
Get all the news from your area – along with features, entertainment, sports and the latest information on Lanarkshire’s recovery from the coronavirus pandemic – right at your fingertips, 24/7.
The free download features the latest breaking news and exclusive stories, and lets you customize your page according to the sections that interest you most.
Head over to the App Store and never miss a beat in Lanarkshire – ios – Android
But nearby businesses and residents have been hit the hardest by anti-social drug and alcohol behavior linked to Lindsay House over the years.
In particular the YPeople project which is based within the unit and which deals with people with complex needs, including addiction and mental health issues.
In 2019, East Kilbride News revealed that police had been called to the unit more than 700 times over a two-year period and launched a campaign calling for urgent action.
(Image: East Kilbride News)
SLC is currently working to identify more suitable accommodation options while ensuring there are no gaps in service delivery as they say the Lindsay House building is no longer fit for purpose. .
The timetable for moving the service will become clear as this process develops, the council adds.
Plans are being developed based on the council’s rapid transition plan for relocation, which emphasizes homelessness prevention and new models of housing and support.
(Image: East Kilbride News)
As part of this, a review of temporary and supported accommodation needs for the present and the future was carried out, taking into account the national priorities detailed in the Scottish Government’s Ending Homelessness Together action plan and the national standards for l temporary accommodation.
Daniel Lowe, Executive Director of Housing and Technical Resources for SLC, said: “Progress on the review has been delayed in 2020 due to the pandemic.
“The need for council to focus on meeting the immediate needs of the homeless, our tenants and other clients in our communities.
(Image: East Kilbride News)
“We are now in a position to continue the review and a strategic temporary accommodation plan has been developed.
“The portfolio of temporary and supported housing is considered to be of good quality and suitable to meet a range of immediate and medium-term housing needs.
“However, it was found that some of the old supported accommodation projects, in particular Lindsay House, no longer fully met the needs and required standards.”
Video unavailable
Mr. Lowe added: “Lindsay House is a base from which excellent service has been provided.
“These services are recognized for the crucial difference they make in people’s lives both by those who have used the services and also by the Care Inspectorate.
“However, the building is reaching the end of its usefulness as temporary accommodation and does not meet the council’s vision for the standard of temporary accommodation to be provided in the coming years, so we are looking to move the service to a place more in line with today’s needs.
“It is important to stress, however, that throughout any transition, the council will continue to meet the needs of all concerned, including those of the people of East Kilbride.”
* Don’t miss the latest Lanarkshire titles. Subscribe to our newsletters here.
And did you know Lanarkshire Live had its own application? Download yours for free here.
