A HOSTEL for homeless people in Skipton is to be shut down because it is not being used frequently enough.

The hostel on Bellevue Terrace has become run down and is not making any money so Craven District Councillors agreed to negotiate leasing the building to other organisations.

However in the same breath councillors vowed to support and resettle young people leaving care with nowhere to live.

The property off Broughton Road was bought in 1992 to try to provide temporary accommodation for single parents or young couples. By 1998 the number of people using the facility was relatively low and the poor quality of the building was highlighted.

Mary Russell, development officer for Craven Housing Scheme, said there was a need for emergency accommodation in Skipton. Thirty-two people were registered homeless between June and November last year.

"We find it very difficult to find emergency accommodation for single people in particular."

She added that the council told the housing scheme it could not afford to repair the run down building. "We do not want people to think that there is no need for emergency accommodation because of this."

Wendy Merry, chairman of Craven Housing Forum, said the forum was concerned by the decision and the situation would be monitored. However members did understand the question about the standard of the accommodation.

Julie Botham, from Craven YMCA, also agreed that there was a need for emergency overnight accommodation for young people in Skipton which was well run and staffed properly. She added that Skipton needed more not less of this type of accommodation.

The three people living there at the moment were not considered to be in a priority need group. Housing manager David Allison said: "We allowed them in because it is the coldest time of the year and it is empty. We will try to take reasonable steps to help re-house them, and we have made it clear we have not got a long term obligation to them."

Coun Peter Walbank also pointed out that no one could be sure whether over the next few months the numbers of people needing the accommodation would increase.

Even though the council has decided to get rid of this hostel, it still agreed to provide places for young people leaving care this year.

By April there will be 99 young people who will be eligible to leave care as they will be 16 years old. Some will remain in their long term placements but many young people will require housing assistance.

Social services has said that Craven District Council must find a maximum of five places for care leavers to go to in the district.

Mr Allison said although Bellevue Terrace could have been used in an emergency situation if accommodation for a person could not be found, but more permanent housing was appropriate for these vulnerable people.

Coun Walbank added: "This is what worries me. There are young people in care that come out and get into evil hands. They get into drugs and become homeless. The council has to make a definite stance. We are talking about Bellevue closing yet wanting to find homes. We have just got to find more money to help youngsters."

The lease for 26 Bellevue Terrace is being negotiated with North Yorkshire County Council which is considering running it as a day care centre for people with mental health problems.

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