Following OnTheWight’s report earlier in the week on the closure of the night shelter for the homeless, the councillor in charge of housing has confirmed she is working with the volunteers running the night shelter in order to find a suitable alternative solution.
Cllr Julia Baker-Smith, Executive Member for Planning and Housing, said:
“The council is continuing to work with the volunteers who operate the night shelter and soup kitchen in order to find a suitable alternative solution and are facilitating this as best we can.
“We are in discussion with other potential partners to this end.”
Personal experience of homelessness
Cllr Baker Smith went on to add,
“We have recently arranged storage/transfer of equipment, some of which was purchased for the shelter, by the council, in advanced of a more permanent solution being found.
“Having been homeless myself ten years ago I understand how important the night shelter, and the hard work of these volunteers is, and I am so grateful for their hard work and dedication.”
Image: garryknight under CC BY 2.0
