Church offers shelter for homeless during winter

A church in Leicester has been transformed into a temporary shelter to support homeless individuals during the cold winter months. The initiative, run by the homeless charity One Roof, will provide 20 beds each night from Monday until 31 March, with an additional 19 beds available during periods of extreme weather, according to Leicester City Council.

The shelter is financed using government funding allocated to the city council, Rutland County Council, and neighboring district councils. The council emphasized that these emergency beds supplement existing accommodation already offered by local authorities and charities.

For security and operational reasons, One Roof has not disclosed the church's exact location. However, referrals to the shelter can be made through councils and partner organizations. Guests will receive support to find temporary or permanent housing solutions, the charity confirmed.

Leicester City Council also runs the Dawn Centre hostel, which offers 46 rooms for temporary stays throughout the year, along with 19 emergency beds. In October, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government awarded the city council a one-time grant of 880,000.

Deputy City Mayor for Housing, Councillor Elly Cutkelvin, explained: "Around 61,000 of this funding will be used to operate the shelter, providing vital support to rough sleepers who are not currently accessing existing emergency accommodation in the city or county."

The council stated that, in addition to supporting the shelter, the funding will also cover two new homeless outreach workers, improvements at the Dawn Centre, free Wi-Fi for families in temporary accommodation, and enhanced programs with Help the Homeless.

Salma Ravat, CEO of One Roof Leicester, said: "The winter night shelter will offer a safe overnight stay for people who would otherwise be sleeping rough in the city and county. Our committed volunteers will provide warmth and security to all guests each night."

Author: Sophia Brooks