ST JULIAN’S House must have its revamp, according to project manager Sandra James. Health and Social Services wants to create a two-bay drunk and incapable unit and use the annexe, currently unused, for an outreach service for drug and alcohol abusers if the States approves next month.
The house currently provides residential services for about 18 people, including two women, who would otherwise be homeless.
About half have full- or part-time jobs, some with the States and others are in long-term employment.
The night-stay unit has ceased to provide short-term facilities for alcoholics and those sleeping rough and would better serve the island as an outreach centre.
Mrs James, who was appointed project manager two years ago, said the £40,000, to be funded though the department’s existing budget, would make a valuable contribution to improving the privacy of residents.
‘There is currently only one single bedroom, which is located in the former deputy manager’s flat,’ she said.
‘What we want to do is improve accommodation for residents by partitioning rooms.
‘It’s not necessarily about increasing bedrooms. It’s about improving the accommodation that we can offer.’
Most rooms accommodate four beds and all but one resident must share the majority of the time. Some have been at the facility for more than 10 years.
‘People haven’t got anywhere to undress. It’s terrible really.
‘Not only are we trying to provide people with some privacy, but we want them to have some independence,’ said Mrs James, who has introduced a quarterly newsletter to the house.
The residents are also invited to bingo nights, have outings, access to a computer and the internet, an area for health advice and leaflets and have meetings to discuss ideas and suggestions for improvements.
But Mrs James said there was more that could be done within budget.
‘For those people who want to be more independent, our chef is going to set up a programme to introduce residents to cooking skills,’ she said.
‘We also want to improve the area for people who are sleeping rough but want to have a wash and clean their clothes,’ said Mrs James.
The annexe, formerly the night stay unit, will be converted into an outreach centre, which will be used by drug and alcohol strategy workers.
‘It’s all about developing outreach services and will be available for anybody who wants to do group work,’ said Mrs James.
‘In terms of the annexe, in the last five years the numbers have reduced quite significantly and the space has not been used for quite a while.’
Mrs James said one area of the building, used by those in the former night stay unit during the day, will now be converted into a training unit to help residents who want to move out to learn life skills.
‘Our philosophy is very much about helping people regain their independence - if they want to,’ she said.
She added that a major reduction in the estimated cost of the refurbishment, from £915,000 in 2005 to £40,000, meant a rethink.
‘It inevitably means we have to fall short of some of our ideals,’ she said.
‘One appreciates the States has got a lot of juggling to do with regards to finances so we have had to come up with compromises in improving the accommodation.’
If the States approves the refurbishment, the main works will include the conversion of the 10-bed annexe to an outreach centre, the manager’s flat will cater for six beds and there will be improvements made to accommodation in the former deputy manager’s flat.
It costs approximately £436,000 a year to run the facility, with £107,000 recovered from residents.
Services at St Julian’s are for those who are homeless, whether through substance misuse, release from prison, mental health issues and transition from adolescence to adulthood or relationship breakdown.
The HSSD has acknowledged that further works will be needed to the house in the future.
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