Plan to launch homeless shelter from former dance studio

A shelter for homeless people is to be established in a former dance studio in Liverpool as part of a £10.8m initiative.

Liverpool City Council has submitted a planning application to establish the shelter on Camden Street, off London Road.

The new shelter will continue to be operated by The Whitechapel Centre and if planning is approved, following public consultation, it would be operational by soon (mid-October).

Last winter, the Mayor of Liverpool Joe Anderson changed the rules to increase the shelter’s operations by allowing it to open on any given night where the temperature is forecast to drop below 2°c, instead of three consecutive nights at below 0°c, and that policy will continue this winter.

The decision was made following a report that showed that despite the city council funding 750 beds every night for people to take up, as part of a wider £10.8m annual programme to support the city’s homeless, a core number of around 15 to 20 are remaining on the city’s streets even in near to freezing conditions.

Anderson, who is to publish an independent report into improving services for Rough Sleepers next week, said: “The relocation of Liverpool’s Severe Weather Shelter has been on the cards for some time and this new location is a far better place as it is much closer to other support services in the city centre.

“It was never open enough until I changed the weather trigger rule and this new location means our colleagues at The Whitechapel Centre will have a better connected platform to continue their excellent work.”

As well as the Severe Weather Shelter and funding other services, Liverpool City Council also promotes a helpline to ensure those sleeping on the streets receive support.

The No Second Night Out initiative says that while there may be many reasons why somebody sleeps rough for one night there is no reason why they need to spend a second night on the streets.