Safe accommodation for rough sleepers this winter

Government plans will allow communal night shelters for people experiencing homelessness to reopen this winter. But we know this isn’t safe - these shelters were shut down in March as they were deemed unsafe during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The government’s plans could force people to choose between freezing on the street or going to a shelter where they could catch Covid-19. Both options needlessly put lives at risk.

Major health and homelessness organisations, like Crisis, have spoken out against the plan - they say the government isn't going far enough to protect people and keep them safely off the streets this winter.

The government has previously committed to halving rough sleeping by 2022 and ending it by 2027.

Winter and COVID-19 present a dangerous emergency. They must do everything possible to protect homeless people this winter.