A VITAL lifeline for rough sleepers across Worcester has opened its doors more than 20 times in almost two months, new figures have revealed.
Worcester City Council, countywide homelessness contractor CCP and Maggs Day Centre work together to run the shelter when temperatures hit zero degrees celsius.
Since the first opening of the season on November 24, an average of 10 people have visited the shelter at Maggs and a rough sleeper’s dog has also stayed there on some nights.
Each time the shelter opens, CCP staff head out across the county to alert rough sleepers and organise transport for them to get to Maggs, if needed.
In some cases, local police have also helped with transport.
Ben Bradley, Worcester City Council Single Homelessness Pathways Officer, said: “There’s always a big focus on the homeless and people sleeping rough in the run-up to Christmas, however our work with them carries on across the year.
“With the freezing temperatures continuing after the festive season, the night shelter is continuing to open regularly and CCP officers are helping rough sleepers to start turning their lives around.”
The outreach work that CCP officers carry out in connection with the night shelter includes a range of additional support for rough sleepers.
So far this winter, housing has been found for three people who were sleeping rough, another four have been helped to apply for temporary accommodation and medical check-ups have been arranged for three night shelter attendees.
Ross Webber, CCP’s Homelessness Prevention Engagement Scheme project manager, said: “We work with rough sleepers across the county all year round, and some of the more entrenched and hard-to-reach people have become familiar faces in the night shelter recently.
“It’s often when someone new turns up for the night that we can make the biggest difference. In the morning we’ll aim to get them a support worker, a medical check-up if they need it and we’ll talk to them about housing options so we can help them come off the streets for good.”
The night shelter at Maggs can accommodate up to 18 people, which has been adequate so far this winter.
If demand is higher, City Council chiefs will arrange temporary bed and breakfast accommodation elsewhere.
Anyone concerned about someone sleeping rough can visit streetlink.org.uk or call 0300 500 0914 for more information.
