THREE of Poole's rough sleepers are to be given a home thanks to homelessness charity Routes to Roots.

A maisonette in the town has been purchased with the support of national Christian social enterprise Green Pastures, which provides homes for the homeless and those in most need.

Local charity Routes to Roots is in the the process of making repairs, decorating and furnishing the accommodation to allow three of its clients to move in. Each will have their own bedroom and share the bathroom, kitchen and living space.

Revd. Pat Southgate, Routes to Roots chairman said: “For Routes to Roots this is, of course, pastures new and we go into it with our eyes open and well aware of the challenges ahead.

"Compared to the stone cold concrete of a town centre car park, where they are most likely to currently reside, this accommodation is a major step forward. We have been assured by Green Pastures that they intend that this property will be the first of many they are willing to obtain for us and we are grateful to them for their faith in us and commitment to the rough sleepers of Poole”.

The charity has said it is ready to give significant support to prevent the tenants falling back into homelessness because they are unable to cope alone with paying their rent and bills, making benefits claims and job applications, or are still struggling with alcohol or drug addictions.

A spokesman for the charity added: "Many on the streets are long-term rough sleepers or people who recycle into homelessness. Although the official Poole street count in November 2014 found just seven rough sleepers in the town, Routes to Roots has records on 17 people who were either rough sleeping or sofa surfing at that time – and they were only the people who came to the charity for help."

This is Green Pastures’ very first partnership in the region and one of only a handful on the South Coast. Pastor Pete Cunningham, director of Green Pastures, said: "We have succeeded in purchasing the first of what I hope will be many homes to begin to end homelessness in Poole.”

Highworth Insurance employees are fundraising to provide some of the white goods and a team from the Footprints Life Works Project and a local professional builder are helping with renovations at minimal cost. The charity is seeking more volunteers and donations.