A YOUTH homelessness charity is seeking support for an emergency funding appeal in a desperate bid to keep one of its Bradford hostels open.

Centrepoint inherited Albert House, in the Heaton area of the city, a couple of months ago, but the building has suffered significant damage in recent bad weather and may soon have to close its doors.

The roof is said to be leaking badly, and the damp conditions may force the seven residents who have made the hostel their home to re-locate.

Martin Gill, director of housing and support for Centrepoint North, said the damage needed to be fixed urgently before the hostel becomes "uninhabitable".

"I thought we might be able to get through the winter and deal with it in the spring, but we need to act sooner rather than later," he said.

"Tiles have been blown off and some of the gutters have fallen down.

"Water is now getting in and causing severe damp, and there's mould growing in some areas, the smell is awful.

"Our young people are taking it well, but they're worried the hostel is going to be closed down, and so am I.

"Budgets are extremely stretched, but we need to get the work done before the situation gets any worse."

Working in partnership with Bradford Council, Centrepoint became responsible for looking after homeless young people across the district in November 2013, catering for up to 328 people aged 16 to 25 at any one time, providing them with safe accommodation and training and employment opportunities.

The charity receives an average of about eight to ten new referrals every week, with around 100 people housed in short-term accommodation at its Foyer headquarters in West Bowling, and another 200 accessing some form of floating support.

It was recently awarded an £8,000 grant from the Gannett Foundation, the charitable arm of the Telegraph & Argus, but that funding had already been earmarked for a community upcycling project.

Seyi Obakin, Centrepoint chief executive officer, said he had written to all the charity's supporters to ask for help with what he described as an "unprecedented emergency."

"While the young people are happy to have a roof over their heads, even if it is leaking, we cannot let them live in this environment any longer," he said.

"It was not that long ago that the young people living in Albert House were homeless, and some of them were even sleeping rough.

"They have all had such an unsettled time, and I’m determined not to have to unsettle them again, just when they’ve found somewhere they can call home.

"This problem couldn’t have come at a worse time for us, as Christmas is our most difficult period and budgets are already stretched.

"But, we really want to make sure that it will be a happy new year for the residents of Albert House, and anything people can give will help."

For more information on the appeal, including ways to donate, visit www.centrepoint.org.uk.