Teenagers have already moved into flats at one of the sites, the former Albion Homeless Shelter in Sneinton, Nottingham, which has been converted.

The Grade ll-listed church, which was used as a shelter, closed in 2003. But it has undergone a revamp costing the charity Framework over �1m.

Two other centres are opening on the Oak Tree Lane Estate in Mansfield and in Mapperley, Nottingham.

The revamped Albion centre has bed sits where people can stay while they get back on their feet.

'Own place'

Resident Stephan Corrigan, 16, said: "I've been learning how to clean up properly and how to maintain everything that I need to do and sort out my money problems.

"It just helps when you move into your own place - mainly just get older and more mature and pay your rent on time and do the stuff you've got to do to get through life.

"I thought it was going to be full of crack heads and all that, but when I got here it was all right."