Young people are being helped off the streets and into homes

Ten people will be able to live in the renovated Grade II listed Regency building in Bedford Square, which is being opened on Friday.

The first residents are due to move in after the weekend and in time for Christmas, organisers said.

Downland Housing Association teamed up with Hove YMCA on the project.

Places are open to people who have already stayed at an assisted hostel, but are not yet able to live independently.

A development of this nature, for single homeless people, is very much wanted Linda Thomas

The housing association said the Hove YMCA managed two housing schemes where homeless young people could receive one-to-one support from staff, but the maximum stay was nine months, at which stage young people could still find it hard to move to full independence.

The new scheme has been set up so hostel residents can move to the halfway house after gaining basic living skills and developing confidence.

They will be able to stay there for two years after which they can apply to the council for housing, or move into private rented accommodation.

Downland spokesman Linda Thomas said there was a large number of young single homeless people in the city.

"A development of this nature, for single homeless people, is very much wanted," she said.

The hostel, which includes eight one-bed flats and one two-bedroom flat, with shared bathrooms, took nine months to complete.

The building's interior has been kept to the same layout, with none of the internal walls being knocked down or moved, and the windows have been designed to reflect the original 1830s style, developers said.