Homelessness charity in search for new site

A charity dedicated to helping people off the streets has said it could be made homeless itself if it was unable to find a new site to relocate to.

Jimmy's Cambridge said the current lease at its 25-person capacity building on East Road in the city would run out in 2032.

Chief executive Natasha Davies said the charity had been looking to develop a new building that would include bedrooms, NHS services, communal areas and a cafe, and would also be open to the wider community.

"We have to do a lot of work up until 2032 to try and find a new home for us and try and increase capacity as well, because unfortunately homelessness is just rising," she said.

Davies said Jimmy's had been located at a former Sunday school at the Zion Baptist Church for 31 years.

According to the charity, about 2,000 people across the county are living in emergency housing with 40 people a night sleeping rough in Cambridge.

It said rates of homelessness were at a record high, with the cost of living, rising rents and unaffordable housing contributing factors for the increase.

"We're incredibly grateful that we've had that space for as long as we've had," said Davies.

"It's a really short space of time when you're thinking about having to fundraise for something new, or to even try to find a space for us."

Davies said fundraising had already begun for the new building.

"We want something really grounded in the community and co-created with the community so that it is not just a home for people who desperately need somewhere to live and who need quite an intensive level of support, but it's also a wonderful space of community infrastructure for everyone," she added.

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