Shelter from the Storm gets new base – but move comes at a price

Published: 06 August, 2010
by PETER GRUNER

AN Islington night shelter for the homeless is expected to start to move into new premises in King’s Cross this weekend – but without the help of property millionaire David Pearl.

Shelter from the Storm have been forced to find new accommodation after Mr Pearl, 62, star of Channel Four’s Secret Millionaire, sold their current building for luxury flats.

As reported last week, Mr Pearl had offered to help the shelter find a new property but had failed to produce any offers by the time he headed off for holiday on Wednesday.

The shelter, catering for 40 homeless people, must vacate its current rent free premises in Elmore Street in Canonbury before August 15.

However, the new property, found by members of the charity themselves, will not be rent free. It is in a non-residential part of King’s Cross and will cost between £30,000-£40,000 a year in rent.

Takeaway chain Pret A Manger, who work with the shelter, have offered to contribute towards rent and the rest will come out of the charity’s coffers.

Shelter manager Louis Salvoni said: “We appreciate all the generosity from Mr Pearl in the past. We’re obviously disappointed that offers from him to help the charity find new accommodation have, so far at least, amounted to nothing.”

Mr Salvoni said it was urgent that the charity move out as soon as possible.

“The new place is a former workshop of about 4,000 square feet, about half our current space,” he said.

He paid tribute to benefactors the Pret A Manger Foundation and various business people who have made donations.

Mr Salvoni also thanked Islington council’s executive member for regeneration, Labour Cllr Paul Convery, for his help in the current accommodation crisis.

He said: “I know Cllr Convery believes that there are empty council properties in the borough that might be suitable for us but his hands are tied by other divisions within the council.”

Speaking to the Tribune before he left for holiday, Mr Pearl said: “It goes without saying that I would love to help this charity.

“I’ve got something in mind, something up my sleeve maybe, but I won’t come back to them until I’m absolutely ready.”