SLOUGH’S first emergency housing facility for 40 years opened its doors on Tuesday.

Slough Borough Council (SBC) recently bought two neighbouring houses in Langley and has converted them into a facility of 12 double bedrooms to provide emergency accommodation to homeless people waiting for a more permanent solution.

Councillor Zaffar Ajaib, commissioner for housing and urban renewal, cut the ribbon on the new building alongside SBC temporary accommodation manager Deborah Gilbert and temporary accommodation officer Jas Gill.

A family of five moved in to the accommodation as early as Tuesday evening, with more arrivals expected in due course.

Deborah Gilbert said: “This is emergency accommodation so we will take people as they come.

“While people are here we will assess their homelessness and help to decide the best next steps for them.”

The only other council-owned temporary housing facility in Cippenham has just 29 flats, so the council often relies on expensive private rental properties and B&B accommodation to house families. It is estimated that it costs £20,000 per year to house a single household in temporary accommodation.

Cllr Ajaib said: “This is cost effective for the the individual and the council as we no longer need to resort to expensive bed and breakfast accommodation for the people here.”

An assessment of a person’s homelessness is made before they are offered a room in either of the buildings and they will sign a licensing agreement regarding conduct on the site.

There is also an on-site staff office for monitoring purposes.