Wandsworth Council are promoting homelessness advice for residents in the borough this winter.

Referencing the present cold weather on Friday (December 13), a spokesperson for the council directed residents towards night shelter schemes in the borough run by the city-wide Glass Door organization.

Glass door provide open-access networks of night shelters for rough sleepers across London during the coldest months of the year when winter weather can pose a severe threat to the homeless population.

A spokesperson for Wandsworth Council highlighted the support that Glass Door shelters provide:

“A shelter is available each night at a different location in churches around the borough.

“Food and somewhere to sleep are provided but guests need to arrive by 8pm and leave at 7am.

“Once guests have been allocated a space they can keep it for 90 days as long as they turn up every night and don’t break the rules.

“This could be extended for people engaging with caseworkers about a move-on plan,” the spokesperson said.

According to Glass Door’s own data, around 170 people sleep in their emergency shelters across London every night during winter.   

The organization’s  website points out that guests who find a place at a night  shelter are given hot food as well as a safe place to rest for the night:

“Guests of our emergency shelters receive a warm welcome, a hot supper and a breakfast in the morning, cooked and served by volunteers.

“These free services are a life-line to those who would otherwise be sleeping on the street.”

Wandsworth Council said that their housing department work closely with Glass Door to achieve the best outcomes for people experiencing homelessness in the borough.

On Friday they offered further advice about the open-access shelter scheme.

“Shelters are open to anyone over 18 and homeless, except people who have already stayed in the shelters for two years out of the last five.

“Homeless people must register in person from noon at the Ace of Clubs Day Centre, St Alphonsus Road, Clapham Common SW4 7AS,” a council spokesperson said.

 They added that outreach teams would be monitoring rough sleeping in the borough to make sure people experiencing homelessness were supported.

Additionally, the council directed residents concerned about a homeless person towards the Streetlink website for details on how they can help get that person help.