Throughout the country housing and support centres run by Church Housing Trust’s partner, Riverside ECHG, are helping rough sleepers out of the cold during the freezing weather.

More than 80 emergency cold weather beds are being offered each night during freezing weather in Riverside hostels up and down the country. It’s estimated that up to 500 rough sleepers will have been helped with food, clothing and health assessments by the time the emergency beds close in March.

“We’re providing specialist support which not only helps keep people alive in the short term but also helps them move off the streets long term,” said Riverside ECHG’s Director of Supported Housing, Mark Nightall.

“In London, Leeds, Cambridge, Bristol, Brighton, Bolton, Reading, Hull, Derby, Barnsley, Wigan and Manchester our teams are doing their best to help ensure no one dies on the streets from the cold weather this winter.”

As part of a commitment to tackling rough sleeping Riverside are working with the national rough sleeper initiative, No Second Night Out, which is now running across towns and cities nationwide, including in Greater Manchester where they are running the service.

Examples of what the support the teams are providing to homeless people this winter include:

• Support workers trained to support people with key issues
• Health assessments to identify chronic health problems
• Working with vulnerable female rough sleepers
• Distribution of ‘Keep Warm’ packs including socks, blankets and thermos cups
• Funding to provide essential clothing and toiletry packs