Torbay MP, Kevin Foster, visited Langley’s homeless hostel in Torquay on 16th December 2017.

The Leonard Stocks Centre was pleased to welcome the Conservative MP to the homeless hostel where he witnessed first-hand how the centre has been helping homeless people to come off the streets.

The custom built project was completed seven years ago although a homeless hostel has operated on the Factory Row site for over 25 years.

The Leonard Stocks Centre provides a vital lifeline for homeless men and women in Torquay. The support helps people to address issues that have led to homelessness, including addictions, mental health, family breakdown and trauma.

Langley House Trust has co-run the Leonard Stocks Centre with another charity, Shekinah, since the Council recommissioned the homelessness service in 2015. Shekinah provides recovery-focused services in Devon, providing opportunities for people in recovery or seeking recovery.

The Leonard Stocks Centre plays a key role in the local Torbay End Street Homelessness (TESH) project. TESH is part of a world-wide initiative to counter a surge in homelessness and rough sleeping in major cities across the globe.

The UK has experienced significant rises in homelessness in recent years. Shelter, the national homelessness charity, has estimated that 307,000 people are now sleeping rough or accommodated in temporary housing, bed and breakfast rooms or hostels – an increase of 13,000 over the past year. This is equivalent to one in every 200 people being homeless.

Kevin Foster has been the MP for Torbay since 2015. He is an advocate for a number of social causes. His plan for Torbay includes creating affordable housing, skills jobs and better road and rail links.

Speaking about the visit, Danny Crowley, Project Manager, said:

It was really good to welcome our local MP to the Leonard Stocks Centre. Kevin Foster was very supportive of our work and the problems we face with the rise in homelessness. We are determined to make a difference to ending homelessness in Torbay.