New night shelter set to open
A new night shelter providing emergency overnight accommodation for individuals experiencing homelessness in Stoke-on-Trent is set to open next Monday (March 2), assisting in the City Council’s response to increased rough sleeper numbers.
A six-month pilot has been commissioned by Stoke-on-Trent City Council and set up by Adullam Homes and Swan Bank Methodist Church. It aims to help clear unauthorised rough sleeping sites and to help rough sleepers find safe, long-term accommodation.
Swan Bank Church is heavily involved in the local community, providing activities and assistance for those in need. In previous years, the church has provided a night shelter manned by volunteers, but as they cannot now meet the service requirements alone, they are partnering with Adullam to ensure their purpose-built property in Burslem is brought back into use.
The shelter is a self-contained first floor space with its own entrance, set up to accommodate nine clients, with facilities to secure their belongings and sleep safely. It also has a large lounge, kitchen area, and bathrooms so clients can have an evening meal, breakfast, and shower whilst receiving support and supervision from a team of Adullam staff.
Important improvements have been made to the building by Adullam, including the installation of CCTV and Wi-Fi. Staff numbers have been doubled, and they are paid National Living Wage rates.
Clients accessing the shelter are homeless and cannot secure accommodation elsewhere. This could be due to an entrenched rough sleeping lifestyle, complexity of using substances, experience of trauma, abuse, or multiple disadvantages, or being excluded from other housing services, making them particularly vulnerable.
Clients will be able to access the shelter from 8pm and can stay until 8.30am the following morning. Those using the shelter will be helped by staff and partner-operated community hubs to initially engage in support to overcome any exclusions or barriers to housing.
They will be able to take part in meaningful activities during the day and ultimately access longer-term secure housing. Shelter stays will be short-term, with clients moving on to secure and suitable housing as a result of their stay.
All referrals for places in the shelter will come from the Stoke-on-Trent City Council’s Commissioned Rough Sleeper Outreach Service Team and will be risk-assessed to ensure needs can be safely met by the service without having to exclude anyone in need.
The shelter, for which Adullam is renting the premises from the church, complements the existing homelessness and outreach services that are provided by the Council, Adullam, the Destination Home consortia, Brighter Futures, and other support providers.
Councillor Chris Robinson, cabinet member for housing and planning at Stoke-on-Trent City Council, said: “This new night shelter is about providing immediate safety, dignity and support for some of the most vulnerable people in our city. By commissioning this service, we are not only helping to address unauthorised encampments, but more importantly, we are offering individuals a route away from rough sleeping and towards secure, long-term accommodation.
“Everyone deserves a safe place to sleep and the opportunity to rebuild their lives. This shelter will play a vital role in helping people access the tailored support they need, from housing advice to health and wellbeing services, so they can move forward positively and sustainably.”
Dave Moore, Assistant Director of Quality & Assurance, said: “Adullam is pleased that our work has resulted in the partnership with Swan Bank and the ability to secure the night shelter. It will complement the work being done by all those involved in helping people to get off the streets in Stoke-on-Trent and will provide another pathway for people to end their need to sleep rough. It will provide the opportunity for changes in their lives and to reach their potential for the future.”
