Harehills ❤️ Love

Leeds’ LATCH charity (Leeds Action to Create Homes) completed renovations on a Victorian house in Harehills back in May this year. From a dilapidated house, they purchased, they converted the property into four flats, (three one-bedroom, one two-bedroom), which will be used to help reduce homelessness in Leeds, and help the homeless get back on track.

The charities efforts don’t just start with homing the homeless, during the renovations they were training and developing people in the processes of the renovation. They helped train ten unemployed people, giving them skills they can use to get back to work again. These covered everything from plastering to painting, and a lot more besides.

The house itself was in a terrible state when purchased, with no electricity, or water, no heating, broken windows leaking roof – it was uninhabitable, which is sad for such an old house, but the charity, its trainees and its supporters all came together to restore and remodel the old house, giving it a new lease of life and providing hope for those in need.

The house comes with everything a person suffering homelessness needs to get back on track, not just a roof and utilities, but also charity led support to turn their lives around as they progress towards independent living.

The charity isn’t finished, however, and plans to purchase eight more houses in Leeds over the coming years, after a highly successful community share issue. Their reach and their goodwill can be shared with more people in the most desperate need.

LATCH is an impressive charity that has properties all over Leeds that it’s supporting people with. LATCH was set up in 1989 and built up continually from there, this project on Harehills Avenue was part of their Latch Creates project, funded by Leeds City Council, Power to Change and ESF Community Grants Programme. They have also recently opened their The Coach House project which is starting as a psychotherapy centre for their tenants, and a Sunday bike fix, but with engagement from the local community will be providing a space for a variety of activities.

You can find Latch at https://www.latch.org.uk/ where you can learn about what they do, read their case studies on why these properties truly do make a difference in peoples lives, donate to help support the charity.

You can also find them on Twitter @LatchLeeds

You can find all the released Advent Posts here: Harehills Good News Advent Calendar 2021