Cold Weather Shelters
Winter shelters (or cold weather shelters) provide temporary accommodation for people who might otherwise be sleeping on the streets during the winter months.
To find out where your closest winter shelter is located please see the list below:
- Click HERE for a list of shelters in the London area or download this link: http://www.homeless.org.uk/sites/default/files/Winter%20Shelters%20List%202011-12%20%282%29.pdf
- Click HERE for a list of shelters in Essex, Suffolk, Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire & Luton
Many of them will open for several months during the winter; others for just one week over Christmas. For details of services opened just for Christmas, click HERE
For more information about the effects of sleeping rough in the winter and the services available, please visit the Homeless Link’s ‘Cold Weather Provision’ page here: http://www.homeless.org.uk/cold-weather-provision
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WINTER SHELTERS IN LONDON
BARNET
BARNET CHURCHES WINTER SHELTER
Open: 1 October 2011 – 31 March 2012 (except 23- 30 December during
Crisis at Christmas opening).
Referral address: c/o Homeless Action in Barnet, 36b Woodhouse Road, N12 0RG.
Phone: 020 8446 8400
Gender: Mixed
Age: 18+
Target group: Single homeless people sleeping rough in LB Barnet who are attending Homeless Action in Barnet’s day centre. Will not accept people who turn up under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol or who display aggressive/violent behaviour.
Referral procedure: Only accept referrals from Homeless Action in Barnet's day centre (details above). Do not accept self referrals or referrals from any other agency. Phone or drop in to Homeless Action in Barnet Mon, Tues, Thurs 9am-3pm, Weds, Fri 12 noon-3pm. Interview.
Spaces: 15
Shelter hours: Shelter opens 7.30pm. Last admission 8.30pm. No re-admission after booking in. Must leave by 8.30am.
Rules: Alcohol, smoking, dogs and offensive weapons are not allowed inside the church buildings. Violent or threatening behaviour is not tolerated.
BRENT
ROUTE 18 WINTER SHELTER
Open: 12 December 2010 – 31 March 2012 (may be closed 23rd-30th
during Crisis at Christmas opening).
Referral address: c/o CHC – Community Centre, 60 Ashford Road, London, NW2 6TU
Phone: 020 8208 8590
Gender: Mixed. Separate areas may be available for women in some
venues.
Age: 18+
Target group: Verified rough sleepers and single, non-priority homeless people with low support needs who are living in Brent. Unable to accept those with high support needs around alcohol and/or drug use, or those with a history of violence or sex offences.
Referral procedure: Accept self or agency referrals via CHC. Phone Mon-Thurs 9.30am-4.30pm and Fri 10.30am-4pm.
Spaces: 15-30.
Shelter hours: Shelter opens 7.30pm. Last admission 8.30pm. No re-admission once booked in. Must leave by 7.30am.
Rules: No alcohol, drugs or smoking allowed in, or outside the venues. Guest agreement. If rules are broken, will lose place. Violence not tolerated and will result in a ban.
BROMLEY
5000 PROJECT
Open: 5 December 2001 – 28 February 2012
Referral address: Bromley United Reform Church, 20 Widmore Road, Bromley BR1 1RY
Phone: 020 8477 0257, 07879 008523
Gender: Mixed. Separate areas may be available for women in some venues.
Age: 18+
Target group: Homeless people. Will accept couples. Priority given to people with a local connection. Unable to accept arsonists, sex offenders and those with a history of violence.
Referral procedure: Accept self or agency referrals. Phone daily 10am-3pm to check vacancies. Application form and interview.
Spaces: 12.
Shelter hours: Shelter opens 8pm. Last admission 8.45pm. No re-admission once booked in. Must leave by 8am.
Rules: No alcohol or smoking allowed on the premises.
CAMDEN
C4WS HOMELESS PROJECT
Open: 2 November 2011 – 1 April 2012
Referral address: See below.
Phone: 07515 507970
Gender: Mixed. Includes a separate area for women in each venue.
Age: 18+
Target group: Homeless people with no other accommodation options. No local connection required but must be accessing support from a Camden agency.
Referral procedure: Accept referrals from Camden agencies only. Phone 9am-5pm to check vacancy details. If there is a vacancy, people are given directions to the shelter for that evening. Do not turn up at venue without phoning first. All places must be booked in advance.
Spaces:15
Shelter hours: Shelter opens 7.30pm. Last admission 8pm. Must leave by 8.45am.
Rules: No alcohol allowed on premises. No smoking inside church buildings. Must register with welfare manager. Anti-social behaviour not tolerated. Must accept C4WS ethos and accept terms of stay.
HACKNEY
HACKNEY WINTER NIGHT SHELTER
Open: 1 January – 31 March 2012
Website: www.hwns.org.uk
Email: link@hwns.org.uk
Gender: Mixed. Includes a separate area for women.
Age: 18+
Target group: Single homeless people, including rough sleepers.
Referral procedure: Self or agency referrals. Phone 9am-9pm daily – the number will be on the website - to check vacancy and venue details. Must turn up at venue no more than 15 minutes before opening time. All places must be booked in advance.
Spaces: 25.
Shelter hours: Shelter opens 8pm Mon-Sat and 7pm Sun. Last admission 8.30pm Mon-Sat, 7.30pm Sun. No re-admission once booked in. Must leave by 8am.
Rules: No alcohol or drugs allowed on premises. People who are abusive, threatening or disruptive will be asked to leave and may be barred.
HAMMERSMITH & FULHAM
WEST LONDON CHURCHES NIGHTSHELTER
Open: 7 November 2011 – 1 April 2012
Referral address: See below.
Phone: 020 7351 4948
Gender: Mixed. Includes a separate area for women.
Age: 18+
Target group: Single homeless people sleeping rough in West London boroughs of Hammersmith & Fulham and Kensington & Chelsea, including those with a range of support needs. Will not accept people exhibiting abusive behaviour, people with a history of arson or violence, or people with high support needs around substance use or mental health who are not linked into appropriate services.
Referral procedure: Only accept self referrals. Phone Mon-Fri 9am-5pm to check venue and vacancies. Registration in person only. Priority given to people who stayed the previous night.
Spaces: 35
Shelter hours: Must arrive at venue by 8pm. No re-admission once booked in. Must leave by 7am.
Rules: No alcohol or drugs allowed in or outside the venues. No smoking inside the venues. Anti-social behaviour not tolerated.
HARINGEY
HARINGEY CHURCHES WINTER SHELTER (ALL PEOPLE ALL PLACES)
Open: 11 December 2011 – 10 March 2012
Referral address: see below
Email: lia@allpeopleallplaces.org
Gender: Mixed.
Age: 18+
Target group: Homeless people with low support needs, including rough sleepers. Must have a local connection to Haringey. “Must want to break the cycle of homelessness.”
Referral procedure: Accept referrals from any agency. Email lia@allpeopleallplaces.org with all referrals.
Spaces: 12.
Shelter hours: Shelter opens at 8pm with last admission at 8.30pm. No re-admission once booked in. Must leave by 8.15am.
Rules: No alcohol allowed on the premises. No smoking allowed inside church buildings. Anti-social behaviour will not be tolerated. Must sign guest agreement.
Further information: There is a contact number for the shelter – 07949 361721 – available Mon-Fri 10.30am-5pm for further information, but this cannot be used for making referrals.
HARROW
FIRM FOUNDATION WINTER NIGHT SHELTER
Open: 4 January – 28 March 2012
Referral address: See below.
Phone: 07979 836403
Gender: Men.
Age: 18+
Target group: Rough sleepers, people without recourse to public funds and asylum seekers.
Referral procedure: Accept referrals from recognised homeless agencies, priority given to those with a local connection. Phone Mon-Fri 9am-4.30pm.
Spaces: 10.
Shelter hours: Shelter opens at 7pm. No entry after 7.30pm. No readmission once booked in. Must leave by 7.30am..
Rules: No alcohol allowed in the building. Alcohol can be handed in if necessary. Smoking allowed only in designated outside area.
HILLINGDON
HILLINGDON WINTER NIGHT SHELTER
Open: 16 January – 26 February 2012
Referral address: See below.
Phone: 07979 250147
Gender: Men.
Age: 18 -65
Target group: Rough sleepers. Must have a local connection to Hillingdon. Will not accept people under the influence of alcohol or drugs, or those exhibiting violent or threatening behaviour.
Referral procedure: Accept self referrals and referrals from any agency. Phone Mon-Fri 9am-5pm. Referral form.
Spaces:10.
Shelter hours: Must leave by 8am.
Rules: Residents must sign behaviour agreement.
KENSINGTON & CHELSEA
WEST LONDON CHURCHES NIGHTSHELTER
Open: 7 November 2011 – 1 April 2012
Referral address: See below.
Phone: 020 7351 4948
Gender: Mixed. Includes a separate area for women.
Age:18+
Target group: Single homeless people sleeping rough in West London boroughs of Hammersmith & Fulham and Kensington & Chelsea, including those with a range of support needs. Will not accept people exhibiting abusive behaviour, people with a history of arson or violence, or people with high support needs around substance use or mental health who are not linked into appropriate services.
Referral procedure: Only accept self referrals. Phone Mon-Fri 9am-5pm to check venue and vacancies. Registration in person only. Priority given to people who stayed the previous night.
Spaces: 35
Shelter hours: Must arrive at venue by 8pm. No re-admission once booked in. Must leave by 7am.
Rules: No alcohol or drugs allowed in or outside the venues. No smoking inside the venues. Anti-social behaviour not tolerated.
KINGSTON UPON THAMES
KINGSTON CHURCHES WINTER NIGHTSHELTER
Open: 1 December 2011 – 28 February 2012
Referral address: c/o KCAH, 36a Fife Road, Kingston upon Thames KT1 1SU
Phone: 020 8255 7400
Gender: Mixed. Some venues have a separate room for women.
Age: 18+
Target group: Single homeless people, including rough sleepers. Will not accept people under the influence of alcohol or drugs, or those exhibiting violent or threatening behaviour.
Referral procedure: Accept self or agency referrals. Phone or call in Mon-Fri 10am-1pm for an informal interview and to be placed on the list for that evening.
Spaces: 12
Shelter hours: Must arrive at venue by 8.15pm. No re-admission once booked in. Must leave by 8am.
Rules: No alcohol or smoking allowed on the premises.
LAMBETH
THE ROBES PROJECT
Open: 6 November 2011 – 1 April 2012 (except closed 23- 30 December during Crisis at Christmas opening)
Referral address: c/o South London Mission, Bermondsey Church Hall, 256 Bermondsey Street, SE1 3UJ.
Phone: 020 7407 2014.
Gender: Mixed.
Age: 18+
Target group: Homeless people with low-medium support needs.
Referral procedure: Accept agency referrals only from Manna Centre, Spires Centre, Ace of Clubs, St Mungo's SPOT Team and Southwark Day centre for Asylum Seekers. Visit the referral agencies during their opening times and ask for a referral. Cannot just turn up at the door without an assessment.
Spaces: 15
Shelter hours: Shelter opens 7pm. Last admission 8pm. No re-admission once booked in. Must leave by 8am.
Rules: No alcohol or smoking allowed in church buildings. If rules are broken, will lose place. Violent or aggressive behaviour not tolerated and will result in a ban.
LEWISHAM
999 CLUB WINTER SHELTER
Open: 1 December 2011 – mid March 2012
Referral address: 21 Deptford Broadway, London SE8 4PA
Phone: 020 8691 7734
Gender: Mixed.
Age: 18+
Target group: Homeless people.
Referral procedure: Accept self referrals and agency referrals. Phone Mon-Fri 9.30am-5pm to check.
Spaces: 25
Shelter hours: Shelter opens 9pm. Last admission 10pm. No re-admission once booked in. Must leave by 7am.
Rules: No alcohol or smoking allowed in building.
SOUTHWARK
THE ROBES PROJECT
Open: 6 November 2011 – 1 April 2012 (except closed 23-30 December during Crisis at Christmas opening)
Referral address: c/o South London Mission, Bermondsey Church Hall, 256 Bermondsey Street, SE1 3UJ.
Phone: 020 7407 2014.
Gender: Mixed.
Age: 18+
Target group: Homeless people with low-medium support needs.
Referral procedure: Accept agency referrals only from Manna Centre, Spires Centre, Ace of Clubs, St Mungo's SPOT Team and Southwark Day centre for Asylum Seekers. Visit the referral agencies during their opening times and ask for a referral. Cannot just turn up at the door without an assessment.
Spaces: 15
Shelter hours: Shelter opens 7pm. Last admission 8pm. No re-admission once booked in. Must leave by 8am.
Rules: No alcohol or smoking allowed in church buildings. If rules are broken, will lose place. Violent or aggressive behaviour not tolerated and will result in a ban.
WALTHAM FOREST
FOREST CHURCHES EMERGENCY NIGHT SHELTER
Open: 1 November 2011 – 31 March 2012
Phone: 07587 191500
Gender: Mixed. Can usually set up separate area for women.
Age: 18+
Target group: Street homeless men and women sleeping rough who have a Waltham Forest connection.
Referral procedure: Accept referrals via 2 local day centres - Fountain Day Centre (Mon-Sat 8am-3pm at 3 Staffa Road, Leyton, E10 7PY) and Greenleaf Road DayCentre (Thurs-Sat 12.30pm-3pm at 67-69 Greenleaf Road, Walthamstow, E17 6QP). Call in before 5pm. Phone Mon-Fri 9am 5pm for information only.
Spaces: 25
Shelter hours: Doors open at 8pm. Must leave after breakfast by 8am.
Rules: Must sign welcome agreement outlining the boundaries.
SPECIAL CHRISTMAS WINTER SHELTERS
CRISIS AT CHRISTMAS
Open: 23 – 30 December 2011
Referral address: See below.
Phone: 0844 251 0111
Gender: Mixed.
Age: 18+
Target group: Rough sleepers and those with specialist needs, including substance abuse. Specialist centres for vulnerable women and those with high dependency needs.
Referral procedure: Drop in at one of 5 day centres: Finsbury Park (venue to be confirmed); Stratford (Newham College, Stratford Campus, Welfare Road, E154HT); Bermondsey (City of London Academy, Lynton Road, SE1 5LA); Hammersmith (Ealing, Hammersmith and West London College, Hammersmith Campus, Gliddon Road, W14 9BL); Deptford Reach (Speedwell Street, SE8 4AT)..
Spaces: Approx 1200 spaces across 5 centres.
Shelter hours: Access to shelters via 5 day centres. Hourly minibus (9.15am-2pm) today centres from local pick up points: for Finsbury Park - Kings Cross, Mornington Crescent, Finsbury Park station; for Stratford - Spitalfields
Market, Hackney Town Hall, Stratford station; for Bermondsey - Temple, Waterloo (St Johns), London Bridge (Southwark Street), Bermondsey station; for Hammersmith - Broadway Day Centre, Victoria, Chelsea Methodist Church. Also via Deptford Reach Day Centre.
Rules: No violence or weapons. No alcohol.
Further information: Phone project on above number or visit Crisis website www.crisis.org.uk/pages/christmas.html - leaflets available with full details in a range of languages.
ISLINGTON
QUAKER CHRISTMAS SHELTER
Open: 23-30 December 2011
Referral address: Union Chapel, Compton Avenue, Highbury, London N1 2XD
Phone: 07833 123155
Shelter hours: Last admission 8pm. Must leave by 7am.
Gender: Mixed. Includes a separate area for women.
Age: 18+
Target group: Anyone who is homeless over the Christmas period, including refugees, and particularly rough sleepers. Local connection not required. Can accept people with dogs.
Referral procedure: Self referrals and referrals from Islington Outreach Forum agencies (includes Islington DAAT, The Whitaker Centre, The Pilion Trust, New Horizon, Focus and Angel Drug Services) or other agencies that can provide ongoing support. Phone to check vacancies and book a bed. Require NI number and CHAIN number.
Spaces: 25
Rules: No alcohol or drugs allowed on premises. Smoking allowed outside.
WINTER SHELTERS IN ESSEX, SUFFOLK, HERTFORDSHIRE AND BEDFORDSHIRE
ESSEX
Haven Annual Night Shelter
Great Parndon Community Centre Play Barn
Abercrombie Way
Harlow Essex CM18 6YJ
T: 01279 898806
Open from 23rd December
SUFFOLK
St John’s Housing Trust
Gordon Road Health & Resource Centre
28 Gordon Road
Lowestoft, Suffolk NR32 1NL
www.stjohnshousing.org
T: 01502 527 200
Ipswich Churches Homeless Project: http://www.ipswichwaterfrontchurches.co.uk/Ipswich-Winter-Night-Shelter.html
Open from 14th December – 17th February
HERTFORDSHIRE
DENS Dacorum Emergency Night Shelter – Hemel Hempstead
www.dens.org.uk/homeless
T: 01442 262 274
St Mungo’s North Herts
25 Nightingale Road
Hitchin
Hertfordshire SG5 1QU
www.mungos.org/services/where_we_work/hertfordshire
T: 01462 435 835
Watford New Hope Trust
67 Queens Road
Watford
Hertfordshire WD17 2QN
http://www.wnht.org/ (click on houses & hostels, then night shelter)
T: 01923 210680
BEDFORDSHIRE AND LUTON
Leighton Linslade Homelessness Service
c/o The Salvation Army
Lammas Walk
Leighton Buzzard LU7 1JB
T: 01525 370253
The King's Arms Project
98 High Street
Bedford MK40 1NN
http://www.kingsarmsproject.org/cm/nightshelter
01234 306500