Essex homeless charity ready to provide further support with new shelter
Off The Streets are hoping to open their doors at the end of March next year
Last updated 4th Dec 2023
An Essex homeless charity is working hard to provide extra support for those living on the streets in the county, as they prepare to open a brand new shelter.
Off The Streets are in the process of transforming a hotel in Southend to a new, fully refurbished shelter to support the homeless community across Essex.
Currently, Kirsty Fields, manager of Off The Streets, and her team go out to those sleeping on the streets and provide vital support and items such as blankets, sleeping bags, or even just a hot drink, to provide as much support as they can.
Kirsty told Greatest Hits Radio they can't wait to get their doors open next year: "We're having a lot of refurb work done at the moment and which will be finishing at the end of February, so we'll be able to get the doors open at the end of March, which is something that we can't wait for.
"It's not like we're just opening a shop, you know, this place is actually gonna change people's lives, and it's something that we just can't wait for that to start.
"So at the moment we're we're working in a different way. We're just kind of here, there and everywhere we're not based anywhere. So we're going out to the rough sleepers, we're dropping off food parcels to those in need and with the cost of living going up as well, the food parcels that we're dropping off - they've doubled and tripled in the time that we've been open.
"And you know, also taking out emergency packs to those people that are still on the streets."
Kirsty and her team provide a variety of support, including sign posting to other services which might be able to help them further, but they're keen for March 2024 to arrive quickly, to open their doors and welcome people in.
"Are these people gonna fall asleep and not wake up? And I think that's the real concern."
With periods of very cold temperatures, rising and falling too, Kirsty has concerns for those sleeping on the streets, without much support or even just the right clothing.
"We're all saying oh it's cold outside, let's put the heating on, and this is something that the rough sleepers don't have.
"They can't just go and have a hot shower. They can't just put the heating on and they can't always put extra layers of clothing on because they don't have it.
"So it's, you know, it's a concern. the temperature is dropping through the night.
"Are are these people gonna fall asleep and not wake up? And I think that's the real concern.
The Team at Off The Streets have been so busy letting people know that when the weather drops to a certain temperature, the sleeping provisions could be available to them, such as emergency accomodation.
Kirsty believes the outreach is just as important, with extra checks in place and taking thermal blankets and hot drinks to ensure the homeless are as safe as possible.
"It's really going to be the journey and the start of many people's futures."
With renovation work currently taking place, which is hoped to be completed by the end of February 2024, Kirsty and her team are hoping to have the shelter up and running, ready to open their doors at the end of March 2024.
The shelter will house several homeless people, with the intention of helping them turn a new page and start a fresh, in a comfortable and supportive setting.
"Honestly it's gonna be such a good time just to get those doors open.
"When people first arrive at the shelter, they're like a blank canvas. They come in, they don't always wanna talk because it takes time to build those trust relationships.
"But when that barrier is dropped and you start working with them as an individual, it's amazing just to believe in them and let them know that they have a purpose and teaching them life skills and getting them involved in, you know, activities and things that they haven't been involved in before.
"So it's it's really going to be the journey and the start of many people's futures."