Update on Hackney Winter Night Shelter and COVID-19
Responding to the crisis with the support of the Hackney Community
This is a particularly difficult time for everyone but especially for our guests in the Hackney Winter Night Shelter and our Women’s Shelter, whose lives are so uncertain and unlike most of us, are not able to “stay home” as they have no home to go to.
The winter night shelter will continue until at least the end of March and if necessary, beyond the end of the winter season, to ensure that our guests can stay in a safe environment for as long as possible. The women’s shelter continues to operate as normal, with some adjustments to volunteer teams and the opening hours.
We are so incredibly grateful to our coordinators and volunteers who have continued to run the night shelter venues and have risen to this unprecedented situation with such professionalism, resourcefulness and an unwavering commitment to supporting our guests.
We are doing everything in our power to make sure that our guests and volunteers stay safe in this rapidly changing environment.
We’d also like to thank those who have offered to help in many different ways. We have not been able to respond to everyone that has contacted us over the past few weeks, as the staff team has been working tirelessly to support our guests, coordinate and implement our emergency plan, as well as responding to the daily challenges that we’re facing.
We may be putting out a call for specific items or skills that we might need in the next week or two. We will post on our social media pages for the help that we may need.
Thank you once again to the Hackney community for their generosity, support and above all, their continued willingness to help those who are less fortunate, even in times where they are facing their own adversity.
In the meantime, we hope that you all stay safe and well.