Record year for Cardinal Hume Centre

By Luke Coppen HOUSING Minister Hilary Armstrong praised Cardinal Hume's efforts to reduce homelessness at the Cardinal Hume Centre's open evening last week.
Ms Armstrong said that through the Cardinal Hume Centre, the Cardinal had helped to draw attention to the problem of youth homelessness.
She said: "The Government alone cannot solve this problem.
"The role of the voluntary sector is absolutely critical. The work of Cardinal Hume is something we will be forever indebted to.
"The Cardinal Hume Centre has helped us identify what needs to happen and to be done. It is making an important contribution to the safety net for young people."
She passed on the best wishes of Tony Blair and Prince Charles to the Cardinal, who was due to speak, but was unable to attend due to illness. Mgr George Stack, Administrator of Westminster Cathedral, spoke on his behalf.
"This is the only initiative that bears the Cardinal's name," Mgr Stack said. "The reason that it is held in such high regard is that it is close to his heart. He has a passion for the poor and dispossessed.
"The Cardinal has been a bridge between many areas in the life our society. He is proud that the Cardinal Hume Centre has also been a bridge builder, allowing, encouraging and enabling young people to make that journey from the streets into secure accommodation, from insecurity to security."
The centre's director Michael Ryan said it had helped more people last year than any other in its history. In 1998, the centre found 56 young people full accommodation, welcomed 35 families to the family centre each day and raised over £500,000 in funds. For the first time in 13 years, the centre has reserved funds.
Mr Ryan said that the centre hoped to expand its services further to help more young people off the streets.