A winter homeless shelter run by Transform Housing & Support has now closed its doors for its third year of operation, after helping 31 local people.
The shelter was run by Transform in partnership with Elmbridge, Runnymede and Spelthorne Borough Councils, the Rentstart charities from the three boroughs, Surrey County Council, Walton Charity and other local organisations.
This year’s winter shelter was hosted in a vacant building in Staines, provided by Surrey County Council. It was open to homeless people from Elmbridge, Runnymede and Spelthorne, who would otherwise have been sleeping rough.
The shelter provided essential services to local people who found themselves homeless:
- This year’s shelter received 64 referrals from 5 January to 31 March – more than five people a week.
- 31 local people were given housing and support at the shelter over three months.
- The shelter helped men and women, although the majority of referrals (84%) were male.
- A drop-in homeless hub was organised, for homeless people to get support from local agencies with issues such as housing, health and employment.
- 19 clients (61%) were supported to move to more permanent housing.
One client wrote a card to the shelter team, thanking them for their support:
“A very big thank you to all for great guidance and advice. In a short time, with your help I feel my life is really heading in the right direction. Your hard work and dedication is amazing. Thanks to all.”
Paul Mitchell, Chief Executive of Transform, said:
“This year’s winter shelter has again shown that there is a need for services to help local people who find themselves homeless. We are working with local authorities and other agencies to find new ways to support people who are homeless or at risk of becoming so.”
In addition to the shelter, Transform Housing & Support provides homes for hundreds of homeless and vulnerable people across the Surrey area. We give people a safe place to live, with one-to-one-support to get back on their feet.
