A NEW homeless hostel is expected to be open for business in March.

Branches' new facility, which is being rebuilt as a 27-bedroom hostel in Forest Road, Walthamstow, was due to be complete this month, but it has been delayed by two months because of over-running work.

The charity's previous shelter was demolished in 2009 to make way for the new facility, which will enable it to provide education and training to help people back into work.

Current users of the shelter are staying at a building in Langthorne Road, Leytonstone, until the new building is completed.

Charity bosses are hoping the new facility, which was built using a £2.5 million government grant, will help users to stay longer to resolve their problems and avoid becoming homeless again.

They are currently putting the finishing touches to the building, including decorating the bedrooms, landscaping the garden, finishing the IT room and nurses' medical room.

Peter Baldwin, chief executive of Branches, said: “Before we had 25 people in 12 bedrooms. Now each person will have their own individual room, with their own bedroom key and a front door key.

“It gives them more privacy and independence.

“The residents are really excited about it and can't wait to move in.

“I am very proud of the work. I think the building looks better than the drawings of how it was supposed to look.”

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