New overnight 'trauma-informed shelters' open for rough sleepers
It comes as charities in the city are working to develop a separate 'early evening safe space' for women who are rough sleeping
Work is underway in places like Plymouth to create 'early evening safe spaces' for women who are rough sleeping.
It follows the first local research of its kind speaking to women on the streets and asking how best to help them after numbers doubled.
Victoria Allen is the chair of the city's Path Charity and said: "What were the things women were telling us they wanted? One of the things was somewhere safe to go early evening time so that women could have somewhere to go and feel safe, and so that they could meet professionals and each other at that time of the day.
"It's why we did the women's census this year because we know that many women aren't out on the streets and aren't out on the streets bedded down you know in a doorway as they're trying to keep safe - they're walking the streets all night or they might be in a hospital waiting room overnight."
It comes as a new Winter shelter initiative is opening in the city, which sees emergency accommodation offered in churches on different nights
It'll run until March and it's believed there's around 90 people sleeping rough in the city each night - a doubling since 2023 - with the true number likely to be much higher. Ms Allen, whose charity does regular year-round rough sleeper counts, said: "There's a lot of demand, the weather is challenging and it's been so wet recently hasn't it?
"We see people on the streets and there's a real downturn in morale obviously at this time of year, with people getting anxious and needing to find safety and warmth."
Path and the Christian charity Transforming Plymouth Together (TPT) have come together to launch Project '58:7'.
The project will transform a network of churches into 'safe, trauma-informed shelters offering warmth, dignity and support for people sleeping rough across Plymouth during the coldest months of the year' and is funded by The Rank Foundation.
Path says 'Plymouth is facing a severe and worsening housing crisis', adding that: "Affordable accommodation is rapidly disappearing, rents continue to rise, and homelessness is becoming dangerously normalised. Over the last 4 years there’s been a 90% increase in households in temporary accommodation including a 21% rise in families with children."
From December through March, centrally located churches will host the shelter on a rotating basis. Each evening, guests will be welcomed through established referral pathways, including the Plymouth Soup Run.
Laura Fraser-Crewes, CEO of Transforming Plymouth Together added: “The project name was inspired by the call of Isaiah 58:7: “to give the poor wanderer shelter.
“Churches across the city want to help, but opening their buildings overnight can feel daunting or risky. Project 58:7 provides the training, structure and professional support they need to do this safely and confidently. This partnership is faith in action, meeting real human need with care, dignity and collaboration.”
Plymouth City Councillor Chris Penberthy, Cabinet Member for Housing, Communities and Cooperative Development, said: “This is another demonstration of the compassion of the people of Plymouth for those who need our help the most."