Hostel to cut beds for homeless

A hostel for homeless people will cut the number of beds it has from 53 to 21 after being linked to crime and anti-social behaviour in Wolverhampton.

The Thornley Street hostel, which costs taxpayers £600,000 a year to run, is cutting its number of beds by April after a city council and police investigatin found its location gave homeless people temptations because it is close to pubs, clubs and off-licences.

Of 17 people currently being sent to court for anti-social behaviour orders, eight had "direct links" to the hostel, close to Broad Street in the city centre.

The hostel is being cut in size and further units are set to be provided at other facilities such as Wellington Street, Bilston, after a safer communities scrutiny panel meeting last night.

Fallings Park Labour Councillor Steve Evans said: "There is never a right place to locate these sites – people always have this perception these are homeless people and probably drunks, and that they don't care what they do. There is definitely more issues about Thornley Street than anywhere else, but my concern is where these people will go now it's reducing in size.

"At a time like this, the economy will result in more marriages failing and more people losing their home."

Bilston councillor Phil Page said: "I think it is definitely the wrong time for this – Bilston has had enough homeless accommodation as it is."

A report said 'move on' centres to help homeless people get back towards independence at Dickens Lodge and Wellington Road, Bilston, would be boosted.