Posted On September 25, 2018 By Miles Delap
Hidden Homeless
New statistics released earlier this year by the charity Shelter have highlighted that 300,000 young people in Britain are the ‘hidden homeless’ without stable or safe accommodation. Following the release of these startling numbers, The New Horizon Youth Centre launched a competition in collaboration with Colander Associates Ltd to find housing solutions to help the ‘hidden homeless’ in London.
The competition is looking for ideas to transform part of the disused York Road underground station into a short to medium term accommodation block to help up to 28 people without safe or stable places to find respite while looking for longer term housing solutions. The project aims to identify concepts which could potentially be delivered across several sites in the capital and must include fully integrated private housing which is expected to fund the schemes. The winning ideas may be considered for future deployment by the project backers.
The competition is supported by The Mayor of London, sponsors John McAslan + Partners, Six Ideas and Capel C S Limited, as well as by New Horizon Youth Centre Patron and broadcaster, Jon Snow. The event is also supported by Transport for London, who loaned the site for the purpose of the competition.
"G&T is pleased to support practical measures to tackle homelessness and its causes in London."Miles Delap, G&T Partner
Gardiner & Theobald is pleased to lend its support to this important cause by sponsoring the launch event to announce the winner, and second and third runners up, on 27th September.
G&T Partner, Miles Delap, commented
‘As leading built environment professionals, G&T is pleased to support practical measures to tackle homelessness and its causes in London. The provision of stable respite is critical in helping young people to access the support they need to develop sustainable lives.’
John McAslan, executive chairman of JMP, added:
‘Young people are the hidden face of homelessness, often sofa-surfing or sleeping on buses, in transient housing or shelters. This competition addresses a growing crisis across the capital and represents an exciting opportunity to generate a design for young homeless Londoners.’
"This competition addresses a growing crisis across the capital and represents an exciting opportunity to generate a design for young homeless Londoners."John McAslan, Executive Chairman of JMP
London’s deputy mayor for housing, James Murray, said:
‘Almost half of rough sleepers have mental health problems, 41 per cent need help with alcohol dependency and 31 per cent with drug abuse. Creating a safe and secure environment is therefore critical.
‘Around 220,000 people across London are forced to stay in insecure or unsafe places because they have nowhere else to go. This competition focuses specifically on short and medium-term accommodation where these vulnerable people can safely stay while seeking longer-term solutions.’
