A HOUSING scheme for the homeless has officially opened and it is forecast to save Bradford Council up to £500,000 a year in bed and breakfast bills.

The 18 self-contained units, near to Bradford Cathedral and in a conservation area, is made up of a purpose-built three-storey block and a refurbished Grade II listed clergyman’s house which dates back to the 1700s.

The Lord Mayor of Bradford, Councillor Geoff Reid, performed the opening ceremony today at the £3.3 million temporary shelter.

All of the units are now full since the first residents started to moved in in February.

People can stay for up to three months while being supported by Horton Housing Association which gives them advice and help to find a permanent home.

Clergy House had stood empty for about ten years, becoming derelict and attracting drug users and squatters.

The Council now has secured a long-term lease on it in return for a peppercorn rent it will pay to the Leeds Diocese which owns it.

The purpose-built block, called Jermyn Court, was built on land the Council already owned.

The Dean of Bradford Cathedral, the Very Reverend Jerry Lepine, was one of the speakers at the opening ceremony.

He said Clergy House had been put to “a wonderful purpose” and it had been a pleasure to see the scheme become a reality.

“It will help people springboard their lives, giving them a sense of confidence and security into their lives,” he said.

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Cllr Reid said he was also delighted to open the great new facility and added: “Other temporary accommodation is often full so this scheme was really badly needed.”

Councillor Val Slater, the Council’s deputy leader - who is also the portfolio holder for health and wellbeing, said it was good to see an empty property be brought back into such good use.

“What is also important is that those housed in this accommodation will have much more support than they had in the bed and breakfast accommodation,” she said.

“We had been using B&Bs. It was costing us well over £500,000 a year and that was not sustainable.”

The scheme will be managed by Horton Housing Association which delivers the Housing Support contract for homeless people on behalf of the Council.

Paul Gartland, Horton Housing’s chief executive officer, said: “While staying at the scheme, we will support individuals and families to find permanent accommodation and get help to address any other issues they may be facing.

“Horton Housing has been providing services for homeless people in the Bradford district for more than 30 years and this is a welcome addition to Bradford’s services for homeless people.”

The Council received a grant of £630,000 from the Homes and Communities Agency towards the total cost of the scheme.

The rest came from its own capital resources which will be repaid through the rental income secured through the lease of the completed scheme.