PLANS by a charity to transform an ageing Victorian townhouse into supported accommodation for homeless men have been put on hold.

The Simon Community wants to renovate a property it owns in the Maryhill Park area, known as the The Grange, which was previously a shelter for homeless women.

The charity has run projects in the building for several decades and said local residents had been “extremely supportive” of its work.

However, the building has lain empty for some time and has fallen into disrepair, suffering significant internal flood damage and the charity has been unable to secure enough funding for major renovations.

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It is understood plans were being developed by the charity to launch its first peer landlord scheme for men, who are ready to take on a first, supported tenancy.

Schemes already operating south of the border involve one of the tenants taking on the responsibilities of a landlord, including ensuring rent is paid and ‘affordable’ rents are agreed.

The Simon Community said it is now in discussions with social housing providers to re-develop the property.

A spokesman for the charity said: “We have sadly had many challenges with our building in Maryhill that to date has rendered us unable to realise its future potential.

“It previously suffered significant internal flooding, leaving it inhabitable for some time, which has massively increased the resources required to transform it in any way into suitable accommodation for people to live in.

“We have worked to explore any and all options to appropriately transform the building, which as well as being water-damaged presents internal sanitary limitations and limited mobility access, and sadly until now we have failed to secure the necessary level of support.

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“The investment required has always been and is increasingly way beyond what is affordable for a charity or our size and funders and donors are challenged with the level of funds required against what would be a small number of beneficiaries.

“We are now in discussion with social housing providers and are exploring options to work in partnership to redevelop the property to sufficient standard with them in a way that allows people to resettle there.”

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