About the Organisation
As part of the government’s Severe Weather Emergency Protocol (SWEP), the GLA provide provisions for rough sleepers over the winter months, when local provisions are at capacity. However, they urgently require additional buildings in which to establish these services in partnership with frontline homelessness charities.
There is some budget available, and they only need access for the winter months. They are also very flexible about the space to be used. For example, it could include empty office premises awaiting refurbishment or planning permission for change of use.
They are seeking premises near to public transport and accessible to people sleeping rough in all London boroughs. Their ideal location would be in Central London.
Request details:
The GLA would therefore be very grateful for support with finding free or low-cost temporary premises that meet the following requirements:
- Space to accommodate 20 – 40 individuals sleeping on camp beds in one or more shared spaces totalling at least 100m sq.
- Space of 46m sq. for dining/activities and two x 4.8 m sq areas for staff offices and support work.
- The premises to be fire safe, with toilets.
- The premises also need to be able to maintain an ambient temperature of at least 18 degrees
- Continuous access from December to mid-March would be ideal, alternatively, access during this period on a responsive/ reactive basis with setting up and closing down triggered by temperature (i.e. temperatures fall below zero centigrade in London).
- Ideally, the space would also have the following additional facilities: showers, kitchen facilities (for warm drinks and heating pre-prepared food only), and a dedicated entrance. However, these are not a necessity
- If there are any temporary buildings which will be available but don’t quite meet this, they would still be interested in a conversation and could always visit the premises to find creative solutions to make it work.
Timeline:
ASAP