Wolverhampton charity plans move to help tackle homelessness crisis

The Good Shepherd is planning to leave Darlington Street Methodist Church for a new site on Waterloo Road, Wolverhampton, and bosses hope the move to a larger site can help tackle the homelessness crisis.

The charity, which serves nearly 90,000 meals and food parcels every year, has outgrown its current home and is eyeing a move to 96 Waterloo Road, directly opposite Molineux. A planning application is expected to be lodged in the coming weeks.

Operations manager Tom Hayden said the Good Shepherd was aiming to forge closer links with Wolverhampton's church shelter and take in more homeless people. Tents have been seen in the city this winter in a sign of the increasing homelessness problem.

People who live in the area and local businesses are being invited to discuss the plans at a drop-in session at the church from 4pm to 6pm on Friday.

Mr Hayden said: “The Good Shepherd has played a hugely important role in helping the most vulnerable people from Wolverhampton for many, many years.

“People from the city have been incredibly generous both in providing food, donations and volunteering, and this has helped the brothers of the Good Shepherd to continue to support thousands of people who often have nowhere else to go.

“Working with the brothers, our partners and other local services, we now have an exciting opportunity to help empower people to make lasting changes in their lives and find long-term solutions to poverty and homelessness.

“We are looking at the potential of moving to a new premises in Waterloo Road and are very keen to work with local residents and businesses to help bring these plans to fruition.

“Ahead of putting in the formal planning application, we are keen to meet with local residents and businesses to talk about our plans and spell out our long-term vision to tackle homelessness.”