Former bus station converted into homelessness accommodation

Milton Keynes Council is seeking to transform the city’s former bus station into a new housing provision that will provide overnight accommodation for the homeless.

The new facility will be able to accommodate up to 18 residents who have been identified as sleeping rough, with new shower and washing facilities and access to a large kitchen area.

Council colleagues and partners will also be onsite to provide essential support in the new site, which is set to open from November.

Cllr Emily Darlington, cabinet member for adults, housing and healthy communities, said: ‘We’re determined to end rough sleeping for good in MK. The first step is getting people off the streets and into safe and warm accommodation. We can then work with people to understand the complex reasons they became homeless in the first place and prevent them ending up on the streets again.’

She added that the Council will be working in partnership with organisations such as the Milton Keynes Homelessness Partnership and the Winter Night Shelter to deliver the scheme, with Council, NHS and voluntary sector services on hand to provide any support that the residents may need in order to enter safe and secure accommodation.

The ground floor of the former bus station will continue to be used by the voluntary sector to provide services for rough sleepers during the day.

The Council encourages people to report anyone they think might be sleeping rough via Streetlink so support can be offered.

In related news, work is set to begin on the latest site to be used to expand Cornwall council’s emergency accommodation provision, after it announced plans in June to end the use of hotels and short-term accommodation to house those in urgent need.

Photo supplied by Milton Keynes Council