Cold Weather Services Now Open In Liverpool

Liverpool’s emergency shelter for rough sleepers opened last week as temperatures across the city plummeted.

The cold weather shelter, operated by the Whitechapel Centre is open from 8pm. The new centre is provided by Liverpool City Council and is based in Camden Street, off London Road, in what was a former dance studio. The previous shelter, at St Stephen’s Church on Crown Street, has been sold for redevelopment but the new site is deemed a better location as it is based closer to a range of other support services.

Last winter, Liverpool Mayor 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. And with temperatures falling to around that mark recently the Whitechapel is welcoming rough sleepers in and asking for help from the public.

A message from the charity said: “The temperature is dropping and Liverpool’s cold weather shelter will be open tonight for anyone who is sleeping rough in the city. If you see someone who needs help call us anytime on 0300 123 2041 (low cost from a mobile). Please RT #Homeless. During the winter the Whitechapel Centre operates the Severe Weather Shelter for rough sleepers. The Shelter offers a warm and safe place to stay overnight; hot food and drinks and a change of clothing, if needed.”

The rough sleeper service is activated when temperatures of 2 degrees or less are predicted on any night or if an amber or red warning has been issued for severe or hazardous weather such as storms, high winds and heavy snow.

When yellow warnings have been issued, The Whitechapel Centre said it will make the decision to open in conjunction with Liverpool City Council and all agencies which have contact with rough sleepers are notified “so no one has to freeze on the streets”.

In Sefton, the sit-up service for rough sleepers is provided every night of the year – summer and winter – at Bosco House (0151 944 1818) and Bosco Lodge (0151 933 2940) in Bootle, and by New Start (0151 600 3530) in Southport.