Third specialist home opens in Plymouth to support rough sleepers
The first two homes support those with substance abuse and the latest home is for those who've struggled due to financial reasons or family break up
A third specialist house has opened in Plymouth for rough sleepers
The first two helped those on drugs to rebuild their lives, whereas this latest one is for people on the streets - without addiction - due to things like marriage break up or financial problems.
Lee Douch is a former Army Captain who was himself on the streets of the city 10 years ago - before he was helped by the Council, Salvation Army and charity PATH which oversees the new facility.
Mr Douch said: "In the first house it's for those - in certain rough sleeps - who have high dependency on drugs and we are able to monitor and support them.
"The next house, is the in between I guess you would say. it's for those coming off and rebuilding their lives but they still need that extra support.
"My property, where I am at, they've either been rough sleeping for reasons due to marriage break ups or financial situations and I help them move forward."
The now employed PATH worker says he spent five years in a type of supported accommodation which helped him rebuild his life after six months on the streets in 2016.
"Now my story is that I have a wife, I have my kids and I have a house," he said.
"With the right help and support I was able to move forward - and with hard work with myself - but because I had those key people in my life I was able to move forward."
He reflected: "I guess it depends on what happens in your life that makes you rough sleep - it can be any experience.
"With my experience, because I have been there, it takes time to transition, and people don't always understand that. What we do is we help them to move forward."
Mr Douch says people are still too quick to judge rough sleepers, saying: "I think it's often very judgmental. You can see somebody on the street but you don't know their back story and what they've been through.
"It would be nice if we could get more messages out about not to judge - as you just don't know their story.
The third ‘MARS’ - or Multi-Agency Rough Sleeper - house was purchased in December 2025 and provides private en-suite rooms for residents who have faced the realities of street homelessness, often alongside long-term health challenges, trauma, and multiple disadvantages.
PATH says the investment 'represents a significant milestone in its work to ensure that Plymouth's most vulnerable people have access to the high-quality, person-centred housing they need to begin rebuilding their lives'.
Path supported 421 people sleeping rough in Plymouth last year and the three dedicated MARS houses now provide safe accommodation and intensive support for 20 people whose long-term rough sleeping and highly complex needs mean they have very few other housing options.
A spokesperson for the charity added: "Plymouth is experiencing a severe housing crisis, with the number of people sleeping rough having doubled since 2023. In 2024, Path helped almost 1,700 people facing homelessness across the city."