WHAT is it then? Dunno. Some sort of hotel? It's like the Model, innit? For folk who've nowhere to live? They'll be coming from all over the place, I shouldn't wonder.

You hear all sorts of things waiting for a bus. I remember waiting for the Pothouse bone-shaker years ago.

One old dear to another: "I hear you've got married again, Edie, luv?" "No, no", Edie assured her. "I wouldn't spit in the Lord's face a third time."

Anyway, the big white office block of a building on the main road as it sweeps along Bury Street has certainly caused some comment.

So I called into the Twin Valley Homes HQ in Blackburn to see Phil Richards, chief executive, ex-Football League referee, and a bloke who speaks with a passion about how the James Street Hostel can help our homeless and vulnerable.

You probably have a house and a car. Family and friends. You're educated and articulate. You have hobbies, interests, holidays. You have a job which pays well enough. A lot of people, young and old, don't have those advantages. No life skills. No self esteem. Nothing.

And it's these people whom Phil and his staff are setting out to help when the almost-finished hostel - council-owned but Twin Valley-developed and managed - opens it doors to its first residents.

Phil, who lives in Darwen, told me: "We want to be more than just a landlord. We want to make a difference to the lives of people who have almost given up. We want them to become valuable members of society and not be dependent on benefits.

"There's so much we can do for them. Many have missed out on a basic education. We can help. They don't know how to manage a modest budget. We can help. Their health and lifestyles may be shaky. Again, we can help."

The James Street Hostel has 30 individual rooms - some can accommodate couples - and there are excellent facilities for training and activities. The £3.5m scheme has been largely funded by a government grant but the council and Twin Valley have put up around a million between them. It's the first of its kind in Lancashire.

But has the borough enough demand for such a project? You don't see many folk sleeping rough. Says Phil: "There is a large, invisible homeless problem. People sleeping on friends' sofas, for instance. We want to help them lead independent lives in their own homes."

Unlike the old Model Lodging House round the corner no one can just walk in off the street. They will have to go through the council's housing needs department who will make a referral after an assessment. The hope is that, after four to six months, residents can move on confidently.

Phil's hope? "One day, a former resident of James Street will sit in this chair and run Twin Valley Homes and the thousands of properties we have on our books." Phil will certainly be doing his best to make that dream come true.