Helping rough sleepers survive this Winter

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Publish date : 2 February 2012

Across the country Riverside ECHG’s housing and support centres for homeless people are helping rough sleepers get out of the cold – and once off, not to spend another night on the streets.  

From the South East to the North West over fifty-five Cold Weather beds are being provided each night.  Riverside ECHG estimates that over 400 rough sleepers will have been helped by the time their emergency beds close next March, with support such as food, clothing and even health assessments

“Our teams in cities like London, Leeds, Cambridge, Bristol, Bolton, Reading, Derby, Wigan and Manchester are doing their best to help ensure no-one dies on the streets from the cold weather this winter,” said Riverside ECHG’s Director of Supported Housing, Mark Nightall.  “Importantly, they’re also providing specialist support which not only helps keep people alive in the short-term but also helps them move off the streets long-term.”

As part of their commitment to tackling rough sleeping Riverside ECHG are one of the lead supporters of the new national rough sleeper initiative, No Second Night Out, which is working to ensure no person spends more than one night out on the streets.  Launched earlier this year in London, RECHG is now gearing up nationally to support the initiative’s extension across towns and cities nationwide.

Examples of the additional support Riverside ECHG’s teams are providing this winter include: