AT long last the YMCA has moved out of Henwick Road but there are still many questions that need answering. The hostel has revealed it has moved residents to three locations in the city, but remains tight-lipped on where.
There is much speculation about the various new sites and we understand these are only temporary until a more permanent base is found but again the YMCA refuses to be particularly transparent. To some extent, that is fair, I suppose, as at the end of the day, the safety of the many residents now and in the future is the most important aspect of all of this.
And it has never been a direct access hostel. Frontline staff who engage with rough sleepers will refer people there. Though this level of secrecy is still somewhat baffling for an organisation which is thought of as open and inviting.
And when working alongside some of the most vulnerable members of a community, such charitable organisations must remain open to scrutiny. Added to that is the mystery around the sale of the former building. It is unclear whether PFHD always intended to sell-up and if student housing will ever be built.
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