MP visits Portsmouth centre caring for people experiencing homelessness

A Salvation Army residential centre for people experiencing homelessness in Portsmouth welcomed local MP and Government minister Penny Mordaunt MP through its doors on Friday, July 22 to highlight the work being done with those who are vulnerable or in need in the community.   

The Conservative MP for Portsmouth North and Minister of State for Department for Work and Pensions met with staff and residents at the Church and charity’s Hope House Lifehouse in Milton Road.    

Hope House is one of three Salvation Army Portsmouth Homeless Support Services and offers a range of residential services and compassionate support for men and women, with emergency beds, as well as floating support to help people keep their tenancies once they have moved into independent accommodation. Hope House works closely in partnership with Portsmouth Council and other local agencies to provide specialised and appropriate support to people experiencing homelessness in the city.  

Lifehouse residents and those receiving floating support are offered access to a range of education, training, employment opportunities, and programmes. These services include activities such as gardening classes, cookery classes, arts and crafts, careers advice, and support to return to employment.   Penny Mordaunt MP, said: "“I very much welcomed the opportunity to visit Hope House.  

It was tremendously important to get a sense of the issues both the service users and the team providing the services have.  It has been an extremely helpful visit on both fronts.”  

Laurie Anderson, service manager at Hope House Lifehouse, said: “At Hope House we aim to help people make better choices and live their lives to the full. We are dedicated to supporting those who are vulnerable or in need in Portsmouth and offer a range of opportunities including Life Skills training and job seeking support and careers advice. It was great to show our local MP Penny Mordaunt the work we do in offering compassionate support, practical help, and the opportunity for transformation in people’s lives in Portsmouth.”