This is a plea from an outsider to the people of Boston to stand up and question the reasons and series of events that have led to the proposed closure of Centrepoint House.
I am now in my fourth year of working in the area and live in Boston Monday to Friday, returning to my home town of Middlesbrough at the weekends, hence the phrase 'outsider'. In my time here I have made many friends and always been welcomed into t
he community, whether it be in a local church or the local pub.
As my circle of friends increased, about a year ago I was introduced to the manager of Centrepoint House and, in conversation, was invited to 'come and see what we do at the House'. This I did, and what I found was quite surprising and totally unexpected.
Classifying Centrepoint House as a homeless hostel in my opinion is wrong, and any visitor to the House would probably agree with me.
What Boston has here is a unique facility offering supportive housing in a caring environment for people from all walks of life who, for whatever reasons, be it family problems or mental health issues, need time and support in order to regain enough confidence to take their place within the community.
In my visits to the House, during which I volunteered myself as odd job man and decorator, I found the staff and management superb in every respect and totally committed to the care and future well-being of the residents.
It is not with sadness that I view the possible closure of 'the House' –as I have come to know it – but total amazement that such a facility may be lost to the people of Boston.
In my home town, a facility like this would not close without a fight from the community and sufficient evidence would be required to show that all the options available had been considered and that all avenues of consultation between the necessary management teams had reached a just decision. I sincerely hope this is the case in this instance because, without this major part of the Centrepoint organisation, I imagine what is left may struggle to survive.
There is a great community spirit in Boston and the people I have met are justly proud of their town and the facilities it has to offer, so I say to the people of Boston, ask the right questions, demand the right answers and fight to save a unique facility which is there for your people in times of need.
I wish Centrepoint House the best for the future, and if there are any more odd jobs or decorating to be done, give me a ring. You have my support.
Dave from Middlesbrough
