A HOMELESS charity in York that was itself made 'homeless' has a new home.

As The Press reported in the Summer, Hoping Street Kitchen, which usually sets up in Kings Square, offering food and support to the homeless community, said is was informed by City of York Council that its volunteers will no longer be able to access the area with vehicles during its usual opening hours due to changes in foot-street restrictions.

Now the University of York has come to their aid by offering space at its historic King’s Manor for the group to operate from. The university’s estates and hospitality teams also assisted, by advising the group on aspects of food hygiene, and the general health and safety of their operation.

The team will set up for the first time in the grounds of King’s Manor on Sunday, November 7, from 6.30pm to 8pm.

Helen Meadows, coordinator of Hoping York, said: “We’d like to thank the University of York for stepping in to help us help the city’s homeless.

“The King’s Manor site allows us to provide nourishing hot meals every Sunday evening to people living on the streets, in temporary accommodation, sofa-surfing, and those many on the brink of homelessness.

“More than food, we offer community – a safe place to enjoy friendship, emotional and practical support and be signposted to other services. Homelessness remains a growing problem, with hidden homelessness a major concern, so it’s vital we are out there, visible to the invisible.

“We can’t thank the university team enough for their super-efficient and warm support.

"We feel very much at home here and believe our homeless friends, dining in such a beautiful setting, will feel truly valued.”

The University of York’s vice chancellor, Prof Charlie Jeffery, said: “We are delighted to collaborate with HOPING Street Kitchen by providing them with a space to continue their vital work supporting the city’s homeless community.

“The University of York was founded with a strong social purpose, and we continue to seek collaborations that bring communities together. This latest partnership underlines our commitment to being a University for public good.”