A SOUTHAMPTON centre which helps homeless people to rebuild their lives celebrated the 10th anniversary of a major refurbishment.

The 43-room Booth Centre Lifehouse on Oxford Street accommodates men and women and helps them to get their lives back on track.

The Salvation Army-run centre is also a safe haven which helps raise people’s confidence so that they are ultimately able to move into a home of their own.

Matthew Smith, manager of the Booth Centre Lifehouse said: “Homelessness is a complicated issue and people can end up experiencing homelessness for a variety of reasons – from family and relationship breakups to unemployment.

"The Salvation Army understands this and the Booth Centre Lifehouse is here to support people from the Southampton area to rebuild their lives and escape homelessness.

“To do this, the Booth Centre Lifehouse helps our residents to regain their confidence, self-esteem and begin to discover their true potential through programmes and activities including the café and music room.

"We’ve supported hundreds of people back into independent living over the last decade and I would like to thank our local community, our fantastic volunteers, our partner organisations and some very generous businesses in the Southampton area who gave us their backing and encouragement to do this.”

Residents can use the on-site gym, get creative in the music room or help out with the businesses run from the Booth Centre Lifehouse.

The centre’s café and delivery service are both social enterprises and profits made are ploughed back into them for the benefit of the residents.

John has lived in Southampton all his life and became homeless when he was 15-years-old.

He received help and support from the Booth Centre.

He said: "I didn’t expect to ever become homeless, but it came out of the blue and suddenly I was sleeping rough in the woods.

"I was sleeping rough there for about seven to eight weeks – about two months and I went days without food. I didn’t ask anyone for anything – I never begged or anything.

“I was able to move into the Booth Centre after being referred here.

"I don’t get hassled here, I don’t feel like I’m trapped and going around in circles and I don’t keep myself to myself anymore.

"Now I’m here, it’s giving me a chance to get my independence back and chill out and take a long, hard look at my life."