A CHARITY for young homeless people has launched a much bigger service — but is still struggling to cope with soaring demand.

Bolton Young Persons Housing Scheme (BYPHS) formally unveiled its new headquarters and launched a new expanded service.

It was awarded a £2.5 million, six year contract by Bolton Council for young homelessness services, fending off competition from several national organisations.

BYPHS was awarded a £2.5 million, six year contract by Bolton Council for young homelessness services, fending off competition from several national organisations in the process.

The move means instead of an eight bed hostel and 25 flats, it will now operate 70 flats, an eight bed hostel, eight supported homes and a new 10-bed hostel, which is due to open soon in Halliwell thanks to Lottery funding.

Staff numbers will also rise from 14 to 38.

But BYPHS director, Maura Jackson, says it will still not be enough to cope with demand.

Ms Jackson added: “This means we can go from supporting 33 to 96 young people at any one time.

“The six years gives us a lot of stability which most people in our sector don’t have the benefit of, and it gives us breathing space to develop these services.

“The new hostel in Halliwell is something we’ve not had before, a 24-hour supported accommodation for young people with high support needs.”

The organisation was set up in 1991 to help single, young, homeless people in Bolton aged 16 to 25 develop basic living skills and become independent.

It helps them find accommodation and supports them after they have moved into their own place.

The organisation has also moved from its small Blackburn Road building to new headquarters in Breightmet Street.

Mayor of Bolton Colin Shaw officially opened the new building.

He said: “What they do is much appreciated by the people of Bolton but I don’t think we’ve told enough people about it, it’s a hidden gem.”

The Bolton News reported earlier this year how Ms Jackson — who has been working with the homeless for 22 years — was left stunned by a surge in demand which forced the charity to turn people away five times in January.

She said she hoped at the time it was a blip, but said it had not turned out that way.

Ms Jackson added: “It wasn’t just a blip, we’ve had to turn people away every couple of weeks.

“What we do is never going to be enough.

“We’d hope to not have to do this in the first place, but to do it is a privilege.

“The bricks and mortar are just the start, but it’s what we do inside which will make or break it for these young people.”