PLANS for a shelter for homeless people are to be considered by Kirklees councillors.

Clare House, a former council office, on Clare Hill, Hillhouse, is considered suitable for the £1.58m scheme to help people at risk of sleeping rough.

On Tuesday Kirklees Cabinet members will consider approving a plan to lease Clare House to Home Group for no rental cost.

The deal would see Home Group run the shelter for 30 years for people aged over 21.

A report, to be considered by Cabinet on Tuesday, says: “In July 2011 Streetscene and Housing were successful in securing capital grant funding of £700,000 as part of the Homelessness Places of Change bidding round.

“The grant was to provide a hostel service for people either at risk of or sleeping rough, alongside training and support to encourage stable lifestyles.”

The report shows the hostel would be available for single homeless people or those at risk of sleeping rough.

The £1.58m will come from Home Group (£880,00) and a grant from the Homes and Communities Agency (£700,000).

Kirklees’ Streetscene and Housing Local Public Service Reward would provide up to £178,000 towards converting costs. Revenue costs would be at least £300,000 a year.

The current cost for providing single homeless support services in Kirklees is £1.2m, which is not expected to increase.

However, the council says there may be economies of scale, with services in one location rather than dispersed as currently, and the authority may also be able to access some of the £763,000 revenue funding from the Department for Communities and Local government recently granted to West Yorkshire authorities.

The value of selling Clare House would be £250,000.

Home Group is expected to maintain the building in its 30 year tenancy.

The report adds that originally the hostel was to be in redundant council buildings at 6-8 St Peter’s Street, but the cost was too high a risk.

Clare House was used by the council’s asylum support service until its contract ceased.

The report adds: “It is recognised that current provision within Kirklees is inadequate. The borough is within the top 10 of lowest provision areas for direct access hostel accommodation.

“This service would support the council in meeting its own strategic objectives in reducing rough sleeping and in meeting government objectives in ‘No Second Night Out’ in tackling homelessness.”

The issue will be discussed by Kirklees Cabinet on Tuesday.