Southampton City Council have funded 12 new bed spaces for street homeless people. These beds boost the current provision, a most welcome addition ahead of the winter. These new “low threshold” beds are integrated with day services so that users can have easy access into them. The new spaces were all in service by the end of October.

To support this initiative Love Southampton are coordinating the provision of welcome bags for each person as they arrive at a hostel. The bags will contain the essential items, such as: toiletries, towel, socks, some clothing as well as chocolate and fruit juice.

There has been good interest for the welcome bags already and Love Southampton is offering the opportunity to organisations to support this initiative for at least the next year (hopefully two years) which is the period that these spaces are funded. If your organisation would like to supply items or make up welcome bags, please contact Paul Woodman paulw@citylife.org.uk