Preventing more 'unacceptable' deaths on the Isle of Wight's streets is the aim of a new £860,000 homeless shelter opening in Newport.
'Howard House' has been named in memory of Islander Howard Derham, a lawyer who died in Ryde while homeless in 2017.
A review into Howard's death found he had "fell between the gaps". It concluded housing, adult social care, health, the voluntary sector and substance misuse services were not working together.
Speaking at the hub's opening today (Wednesday), the council's director for Adult Social Care Carol Tozer said his death was 'unacceptable'.
"Howard died on the streets in 2017, in the fifth richest nation on the globe. Unacceptable.
"I'm so proud his family have allowed us to do this. This is named after Howard because we have to learn from those sorts of instances. It's been a long time coming.
"This is a culmination. It's not the end, it's the start of a more positive, more holistic future for homeless people on this Island."
Run by charity the Salvation Army, the shelter can house up to 17 people of all ages and abilities.
It's based at the former Barton Primary School site in Newport, which was previously used for winter homeless provision.
Cllr Karl Love, the council’s cabinet member for Adult Social Care, cut the ribbon at today's opening. He told Isle of Wight Radio "we all have a right to have a roof over our heads".
He said:
"This is a facility that is there for everybody who's in need, particularly at the very desperate end when things have felt almost impossible to recover from.
"This facility provides real hope for the future."
Cllr Love also paid tribute to his predecessor, Cllr Clare Mosdell, who laid the groundwork for the new hub.
The council has invested around £500,000 in the new centre, with a further £362,000 secured from the Government.
The hub will open on Monday (12).
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