Around 30 local residents and business owners expressed vehement opposition to a supported housing project being located on Queens Road in Shanklin at a public meeting last night (Wednesday).
The Supported Housing Project will be run by Two Saints, an organisation specialising in helping the homeless to reintegrate into society and eventually find their own, permanent accommodation.
Two Saints seek to accommodate 6 formerly homeless people within a house of multiple occupations (HMO) at 31 Queens Road. They propose the house become a Stage 2 dwelling, for residents formerly housed in a homeless hostel and making the transition to regular employment and self-reliance.
Similar plans at Castle Road in Carisbrooke and Leed Street in Sandown have also been met with animosity from residents.
On behalf of Two Saints, James Mc Dermott said:
“Everyone should have the right to a home. Homeless people could be your friends, neighbours, sons, or daughters. There is a housing crisis on the Isle of Wight. We are only looking to rehome Islanders, not mainlanders.
“In a stage 2 house, we become part of the neighbourhood. You do not get behaviour that affects the community. You will not get chaos. If anyone does not behave appropriately, they will have to leave.”
However, the assurances of representatives of Two Saints fell on the deaf ears of those living nearby the proposed supported housing project.
Business owner Alina Maslowski said:
“We do appreciate the laudable activity of Two Saints, but we are vehemently against this development in a residential and tourist area which relies on the peaceful and secure environment of Queen’s Street.”
Neighbour Carol Harvey said:
“Two Saints house people who are recovering from drug and drink addictions, ex-prisoners and people with mental health issues in the hope of preparing them for work. We are primarily one of the main hotel areas in Shanklin and as such we wish to maintain a pleasant area for all of our guests and the residents.”
Peter Mills, who lives opposite the proposed HMO, said:
“The proposed use of number 31 Queen’s Road would put inappropriate stress on the surrounding homeowners, who are mainly pensionable age: some in their 80s.
“Depending on what they are being housed for, what type of company are they going to attract?
“Shanklin is known to the police for drug dealing and the problems related to drink and drugs.”
However, Councillor Chris Quirk – currently the Mayor of Shanklin – who was present at the meeting, was broadly supportive of Two Saints. He said:
“My 1st reaction was to oppose. Most Houses of Multi-Occupancy are for profit. We have issues with HMOs with drug addicts, alcoholics, and offenders. But we have a much more controlled situation with Two Saints. Unlike many other HMOs, I think they have got it right.
“We have people in Shanklin living on the streets. With Covid, the government has given us money to help the homeless. We have to get them integrated back into society. The most important factor in this is to find a place for them to live.
“I’d rather it wasn’t in Queen’s Road. But that’s where an appropriate property is situated.”
Good on you, councillor Chris quirk.
I think you hit the nail on the head with your comments.
What is so special about the residents of Queens road anyway, apart from all there money. ( A lot of old people live there ? I’d rather that, then them being housed next to children and school’s etc.). All people have the right to live somewhere. NIMBY’ISM AT IT’S FINEST!
What’s wrong with old people???….you will change your tune if you get old, or will you not make it because of your lifestyle?.
They mentioned that a lot of elderly people live in the area (in the article)
And on to your second point…
I don’t want/expect to live pass 60.
The only reason I keep going is because of my two youngest.
I just can not understand why people
would want to live into there late ninety’s. I am almost looking forward to going (hopefully peacefully). Does that answer your questions ?
Why not sort out Camp Hill and house the homeless and others similar there ?
And here it is, the call of the NIMBY.
Thats what iv said before,
The people moaning are the same ones who attack people for being homeless. Then when something is done they attack them again. No wonder they behave as they do, every man and his dog are attacking them.
What nasty neighbours – typical nimbys.
These are people that are trying to adjust and recover from their past and get back to a ‘normal’ live.
Alina and Carol I hope this never happens to you.
The report says stage 2 and no disruption to the local community. I feel sorry for genuine, law abiding homeless people, it must be horrible to be without a safe, warm place to call home. What i do object to are the drunks and the druggies that are placed in the community and cause nothing but trouble and bring fear and upset to others near by.
Why aren’t those do gooders at two saints purchasing properties next to their own homes to convert into HMO – we know why – they do not want the dross they are making money off, living next door to them. They are happy to burden hard working, tax paying, home owning residents with the dross and filth they peddle.
say no to HMO
And how do you know they haven’t purchased properties next to their own homes? Please enlighten us all.
I’m still waiting for a reply, perhaps those people that have voted down my question have the answer or maybe they think every homeless person is “dross” and beyond help.
I agree, the comments on here are shameful and show a certain part of the IOW population up for what it really is – narrow-minded, shortsighted, discriminatory, NIMBYist, and bitter.
Think 1950s South Carolina redneck, you’ll be somewhere near the mark.
There’s already a HMO in Palmerston Road isn’t there? Though that’s nearer the Conservative Club so likely makes the immediate area better compared to the drunks that pour out of that place at night.
The people that pass these sort of aplications,and licenses, ect dont live in shankin more than likely
Same old boring and predictable BS.