Chester homeless charity teams up with DIY store to keep people off the streets

Jun 16 2009 By Chester Chronicle

MORE than 3,000 people have been in danger of having to bed down on the streets during the last year.

But the figures for Chester and Ellesmere Port are already dropping thanks to an unlikely partnership between a charity and a DIY store.

Chester Lodgings And Support Providers have teamed up with Focus DIY after the Tarvin Road store offered the charity’s manager Chris Lines a bed for just £10.

He explained: "I was visiting Focus when a member of staff there asked me if I wanted to buy a bed for £10.

"I didn’t need it for myself but I thought we could use it at the charity.

"It turned out there was six or seven beds available that were the last in stock and we have since given them to those who are starting up in their homes."

CLASP was established 15 years ago and helps provide vulnerable homeless adults between the age of 16-65 in Chester and Ellesmere Port.

The charity, based on Frodsham Street, manages twelve flats occupied by single people who can stay for up to two years until they get their lives back on track.

Focus is the latest large business to back CLASP in their effort to support the homeless population.

Mr Lines said: "CLASP works hard to help keep down the numbers of homeless people on our streets and reduce the poverty and illness that they are exposed to.

"As a registered charity CLASP is grateful to the Cheshire West and Chester Council and the Western Cheshire Primary Care Trust for their continued financial support."

According to CLASP, last year there were 146 people in Chester classed as homeless.