I have just received the letter informing me that Miriam Lodge is proposing an additional 61 rooms to their existing hostel.  
 
First of all i wonder what the exact client group is that is going to be housed? There is no mention of that in the proposal. From what i have seen Miriam House is providing temporary housing for vulnerable people who often struggle with substance abuse issues. I have work experience in this field myself. This has thought me that there is a critical mass to such projects.  When projects become too big the problems become unmanageable. Provision for vulnerable people is essential but it needs to be spread and not concentrated. Dartmouth Rd is doing its part already as we have a hostel, a methadone prescribing service and our fair share of street drinkers gathering in front of the job centre in Dartmouth RD. For one street that is enough.
 
Miriam Lodge is a commercial provider of housing and they have no interest in their resident’s wellbeing. When i wanted to address noise issues with them recently i found no phone number for them on the internet. Clearly they did not want to be contacted.  I went there in person. The member of staff on duty was helpful and did sort a particular issue but he was alone on duty. Miriam lodge will run the hostel on a shoe string. They will not be able to intervene when needed or support their vulnerable tenants.
 
Since Miriam Lodge have started their service Dartmouth Rd has changed.  Till a few years ago no one was begging in the street. Now it is a common feature especially but not exclusively in the evenings. There are often loud arguments especially in the bus stop in front of the school that is serving Miriam Lodge clients as well. It is not uncommon to have your night rest interrupted by people shouting abuse at each other, threatening each other. I will spare you the details. Noise from the hostel is a daily occurrence, people shouting, arguing , playing loud music either from their rooms or from car stereo`s.  If there is staff present then they do not seem to be able to do something about it. Dealing has gone on and will increase due to economy of scale. I was offered drugs by someone in front of the road leading to Miriam House by someone who was under the influence of some substance himself. I politely declined. We had had an issue where people started to use the bus shelter as a meeting point during the night talking loudly till the early hours. My car has been broken in twice.  Our house has been burgled. There was a period when racist comments were written on our house.
Recently Dartmouth Rd and Kirk dale received extra money to revive shops and to try to create a good business environment to attract people back into these streets. This is vital as the neighbourhood has gone backwards. Especially close to Miriam House and the round abound Kirkdale with shops closing and the street front looking dilapidated.
 
A bigger hostel will lead to bigger issues in the neighbourhood we all know that.  It will ruin the recent efforts to regenerate the area. Vulnerable people have no change of recovery when housed in chaotic circumstances with a lot of vulnerable people around them. Especially as no one is looking after their needs and their housing provider is only interested in profit.  They need small provision by caring and knowledgeable providers and Miriam Lodge is unable to do this.