Newquay launches year-round scheme to house up to 20 rough sleepers
An old surf lodge at Mount Wise has been turned into accommodation
Newquay has launched a new housing scheme to help rough sleepers get back on their feet.
The all-year-round housing, previously named Escape Surf Lodge, has been redesigned in to accommodation for up to 20 residents to live for six months.
It will see help for people who have fallen on tough times to get the support they need to find permanent housing.
A resident who was now moved in to the accommodation said: "Everything started for me last September, I was in a relationship and things went wrong very quickly. My partner passed away, very unexpected, and I'd never really signed on the tenancy it was something you never really think about doing.
"I was left on my own and in January I got contacted by one of the outreach workers and was told about this coming up over in Newquay.
"It's terrible at the moment the housing situation. There was no option, I didn't know what would come next".
As a rough sleeper with a dog, he told us he struggled to find accommodation which would accommodate for his pet.
He added: "The dog is here with me. It's like a one-stop shop to get you back on your feet, you know everything's in one place so you don't have to keep going here there and everywhere which when you're sort of homeless, that's what you have to do".
The accommodation offers separate rooms for people with some shared facilities, kitchen spaces, office facilities, security and housing management staff alongside support staff.
Kate Moss, business development and project manager at Harbour Housing, said: "We've been able to take advantage of the wonderful space inside, the communal space, we've got a kitchen where people can do training, cook for themselves and cook each-other for independence.
"What we've been able to do is work with the owner and develop our dog tolerance policy so this gentleman was able to come in off the streets with his dog who he'd lived with for the best part of his life.
"It's these little wins that we're seeing here where we can open up and really work with the person rather than the problem. We want people to enjoy this as their home".
Olly Monk, cabinet member for housing and planning at Cornwall Council described it is a welcome step in the right direction.
He said: "It's really good to see how well run this place is and give them a chance to get their lives back together and get them back into more mainstream accommodation.
"We know there's a massive housing crisis in Cornwall right now and we need housing of all types, for families who find themselves on hard times who've been evicted and for single people and individuals who can't find any type of accommodation before.
"I hope we can provide many more of these facilities for as long as they are needed. We need to deal and look after people who are in need of these kinds of services and accommodation".
The all-year housing will be available for residents to stay in for six months with support to find them more permanent accommodation and support after rough sleeping.