Two Saints, a charity behind plans to create a House of Multiple Occupancy (HMO) for homeless people on Avenue Road in Sandown, have said they are to proceed as planned despite concerns of local residents.
As first reported by Island Echo, renovations are already well underway to turn a former 2-bed house on the residential road into an HMO with as many as 10 rooms.
However, many local residents voiced concerns at the news saying that it would bring unwanted crime to the area and deter tourists from visiting during the year, with people also taking umbrage with the fact the works were able to take place without public consultation.
Under planning regulations, the charity does not need to seek permission to make the changes as they are strictly internal and Two Saints have said they plan to go forward with the plans by working together with local councillors.
Kenna Young, Regional Director at Two Saints, has said:
“People who’ve found themselves in the unfortunate position of being homeless need support and places to call home, including those from the Isle of Wight community.
“Our supported living service is designed to help people who are homeless on their journey away from the streets and into independent living, with tailored support. The accommodation will be more than a home, it will also be a place for residents to learn new skills and improve their chances of rebuilding their lives and looking forward to a better future.
“Under the current planning laws planning approval is not required to turn a property into a small house of multiple occupancy (HMO). We’ve been consulting with the local councillors throughout the process and will continue to do so.
Article continues below this advertisement “We’ll also work with neighbours to alleviate any worries. Once the accommodation is fully open, our staff will also be a contact for local people if they have any questions or concerns. For more information the local community can view our webpage: Isle of Wight Properties – Two Saints “
Once the accommodation is fully open
These people do not give two s^^ts about the locals whose area will be ruined by these deadbeats and are going to open it, no matter what the locals say. This tells you all you need to know about these virtue signallers – just look at the other HMO’s that are on the island, they are magnets for filth, junkies, alco’s and other s cumbags.
two saints don’t care -they just want the cash from the state, as they make a living off the backs of these degenerates.
a charity does not ruin the lives of those that happen to live near their activities – two saints should build a HMO next to their own homes- practice what you preach.
if they really cared about the community – they wouldn’t impose on it
A bit rich coming from someone whose comments regularly demonstrate that they hate everyone but themselves.
Let’s just hope you never become one of those “said scumbags”. What an earth has happen to you in your past for you to respond so hard, ignorant and bitter. How sad.
Pretty language but it essentially means ‘we don’t care what you think, we’re going ahead with our doss house for dossers.’
It must absolutely horrendous to find yourself homeless, nobody is disputing that. What the residents of Sandown are fed up with is, it’s always Sandown. Why not Bembridge, Cowes or Seaview? We all know the answer to that question don’t we councillors!
Some of these homeless people you see sitting on the bench on Broadway, swigging strong lager from a can during the day. The woman in question is too lazy to even put her empties in the bin, a pile of empty cans is growing in size every day!
They care not for the local community. THIS is what the residents of Sandown dislike. The ASB and trouble some, not all, cause in the town.
The woman in question isn’t “too lazy”, she has just plain lost the will to live. This isn’t like some chav chucking his McDonalds wrappers out of his car window, this is a woman who has become so low that nothing matters any more.
Living on the streets is not a life choice. It is dangerous, the risk of death from things like disease and hypothermia are high. The drink and drugs many homeless resort to are a sad attempt to forget their predicament, but only add to the risks.
Guessing you would rather she, and others like her, continue to be “too lazy” on the streets rather than being helped to get back on her feet and give her life some meaning?
Or you do want her to get help, but “not in my back yard”?
I presume then worky – you are welcoming them in to your home or offering it to the homeless – if not, then stop virtue signalling and making excuses for those who cant be bothered to help their selves.
Remember all those people who said people must stop ‘virtue signalling’ about refugees and must keep quiet unless they had refugees staying in their own house? And how we ought to be looking after our own instead?
Turns out that they’re not interested in looking after our own either. They’re only interested in looking after themselves.
Yep.
Don’t want them on the streets near their homes, don’t want them in accommodation near their homes. Probably happy for them to be in accommodation near someone else’s home, though.
They are just your normal, run of the mill, NIMBYs, however.
“isle of wighter” is something entirely different. They are an extremely nasty excuse for a human being. Pretty sure that the only accommodation “wighter” would like to see them in would be a camp in the middle of nowhere with guard towers and “showers”.
Why not volunteer in a homeless shelter and see for yourself the lives of these people
Not a chance – why on earth would i want to spend my valuable time serving up food to someone that cannot be bothered to help theirselves.
Your valuable time. I doubt you’ve ever done anything in your life that could be said to be a good deed or act of compassion. You really come across as an extremely nasty person, thank God I don’t live next door to you.
Of course I’m not “welcoming them into my home”, that is a ludicrous counter argument.
But I would have no issues wit Two Saints opening a similar facility in my neighbourhood.
Typical view of the reactionary Isle of Wight resident-keep reading your Daily Mail. Wouldn’t surprise me if you claim to be a Christian also.
Agree worky, there’s many a drug dealer ,alcoholic living in rented accommodation and work who are also born and bred Isle of Wight.
Im sorry but she obviously hasn’t hit a rock bottom otherwise she would be in AA!! This being said from a recovering alcoholic of 16 years. I too live in Avenue Road and we as a street already have to deal with the halfway house in Fort Street and the emergency housing in Fort Mews! Both properties have brought alcohol, drugs and abusive behaviour to our road! I have children!! Please someone explain how that is acceptable behaviour? Drink or no drink! I won’t be letting my kids out and if I ever wish to sell my property I’m royally screwed!! How can this be allowed without neighbourhood consultation!!!
Very well said. Well done you. Sums these places up perfectly.
Some of the comments are here are so ludicrous. Why should she be in AA. As a recovering alcoholic you should know better, do you go to AA?
Lost the will to live! Do me a favour. These people get given a lifeline and they abuse it.
They don’t want to partake in a job to GIVE something to the country, they just TAKE from it, hard working tax payers money keep them in their addiction, whatever that maybe. They care not for the community they live in. If she did, she could at least put the empty beer cans in a bin, but no, too lazy. These homeless, bored, given up on life types as you put it, could get involved with charity work or cleanse the streets of rubbish, but no, wouldn’t want to do that either. All they do is drink or take drugs every day. No wonder the’re fed up!
Sunshine, how ill informed you are. There are homeless shelters in Newport, Carisbrooke, and Ryde that I know of. Think yourself fortunate you have a roof over your head. Yo do not know what has brought these people to the situation they find themselves in, it can be numerous reasons.
Why don’t we wait and see what the occupants are like before casting dispersions – then you can take the necessary action of complaining. Some people – especially in todays day and age – are homeless due to reasons outside their control and not are all alcoholic or drug addicts – most of those types own their own home!
You just can’t win with Sandown. On one hand the residents are moaning about the state of the place but as soon as you invite an influx of a better class of people they moan about that too.
Why don’t Two Saints just be open and honest and tell the local community who they intend or do not intend to house at Avenue Road? Will they be housing drug addicts, alcoholics, violent or sexual offenders or those likely to cause anti-social behaviour? If the answer is no there is likely to little impact on the area and Sandown in general.
“People who’ve found themselves in the unfortunate position of being homeless need support and places to call home, including those from the Isle of Wight community“ says 2 Saints.
Couldn’t agree more and of course Sandown should be included.
Please can someone tell me how many similar properties are planned for Seaview, Bembridge, Gurnard and Fishbourne?
I tried HMO I was driven to a Mental breakdown. People do not want to help those on the streets. Especially if there is nothing in it for them . x x