Last Modified January 22, 2013
Details of emergency accommodation and night shelters in the surrounding area.
Night shelters
The night shelters below provide emergency accommodation. They have vacancies on a daily basis and are suitable for men and women, offering separate sex accommodation, which can vary from dormitory accommodation to shared rooms. They rarely accommodate couples, so if you are a couple you may have to apply to separate night shelters.
Some night shelters operate on a referral basis only, meaning that your local council needs to refer you. If it is a direct access shelter, then you can turn up at the hostel yourself.
What is included?
Many night shelters will supply a breakfast or a light meal and some provide a small evening meal. The accommodation will only be open at a certain time in the evening and will close early in the morning after breakfast.
Each night shelter has different policies and some will allow you to leave your belongings during the day, but others will not.
How do I pay for the night shelter?
The night shelter will make a charge for accommodation. If you receive Job Seekers Allowance or Income Support you will need to claim housing benefit to help with the cost of this. If you are on a low income, you may also be able to claim housing benefit to help towards the charges.
How do I find a night shelter?
If the shelter offers direct access then you need to phone them. Demand for the night shelter can be high, so because of this, the number of spaces can be limited, so please ensure that you get to the night shelter at the correct time.
Night shelters in the area
Open Door Project
8 Bricket Road, St Albans, Herts.
Tel: 01727 859113
www.opendoorstalbans-district.org
Open from 6pm to 8.15am. It offers emergency direct access night shelter on a nightly basis for 12 men and four women aged 18 and over.
North Herts Sanctuary
25 Nightingale Road, Hitchin, Herts.
Tel: 01462 435835
www.northhertssanctuary.org.uk
North Herts Sanctuary is a 17-bed night shelter for the homeless, offering temporary accommodation. It is a direct access hostel, which means you must present yourself between 9am and 4pm Monday to Friday.
Stevenage Haven
Tel: 01438 354884
Email: info@stevenagehaven.org.uk
www.stevenagehaven.org.uk
Stevenage Haven is a charity providing all year emergency night shelter accommodation to homeless women and men in Stevenage and the surrounding area. This service operates on a referral basis only. In order to access this night shelter you must be referred by our housing options team.