Emergency beds will be available for rough sleepers in St Albans throughout the cold winter months, thanks to an ongoing city-wide initiative.
The annual Winter Bed Project, organised by St Albans City & District Council (SADC) and several partner organisations, is providing a warm space for homeless people during the cold months.
This includes three self-contained cabins with a total of four beds, located on land owned by the charity Emmaus Hertfordshire. This is a volunteer-run programme.
A further two emergency beds are available at the Open Door homeless shelter in Bricket Road, which can accommodate 12 people a night throughout the year.
Two outreach workers are also now working in the area to help make rough sleepers aware of available support. One is employed by SADC and the other by Hightown Housing Association, with funding from the Open Door charity.
Councillor Jacqui Taylor, chair of the council’s Housing and Inclusion Committee, said: “Protecting the small number of rough sleepers we have in the district at any one time is a priority for us.
“Once again, we are delivering the Winter Beds Project together with local homeless charities and organisations including Open Door, Hightown and Emmaus.
“I thank them and the Winter Beds volunteers for all for their valiant efforts as without them this project would not happen. The provision of these extra beds will ensure that no one needs to sleep outside as the temperatures fall.”
Photo credit: St Albans City & District Council
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