MHA Multi-Faith Housing with Care Project – The South Leeds Appeal

This evening I was invited to attend a presentation given by MHA to describe their plans for Hemmingway House, a multi-faith housing with care project in South Leeds. Local residents and members of the various faith communities in Leeds had also been invited to hear about this ground breaking scheme which is a national first.

MHA is proposing to build a facility that will provide support for up to 90 residents in 45 apartments which will offer independence with the security of 24 hour staffing. The unique element of the scheme is to use the project to encourage the coming together of local faith groups in South Leeds focused on the care of older people from all faith communities. It is hoped that local residents will use the facilities in the building, like the planned vegetarian bistro, and so ensure that those living in Hemmingway House will continue to feel that they are full members of the community.

MHA now provides care and support to over 13,000 older people through 75 care homes, 50 retirement schemes and 49 community based projects, and they are applauded for their work to support people with dementia as well as their emphasis on nurturing a persons spirituality and by doing so helping to improve physical wellbeing. However they have never done anything quite like this.

The South Leeds Appeal is an attempt to raise £750,000 to make this dream a reality and I’ve no doubt that once people see the quality, scope and importance of this project the target will be quickly achieved.