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All across London and all the boroughs are various shelters and other short term housing units that struggling families can turn to in an emergency. Several charities run the centers for the vulnerable. There are also a number of sites set up by churches just for the winter months that senior citizens can drop in at to get warm or that homeless individuals can use for a night or two.

Some of the providers, such as Centrepoint or Look Ahead, operate multiples sites in the city while there are other charities that operate just one shelter. Restrictions will usually be put in place as well. For example, short term housing may be focused just on young people are maybe singles. Other locations will be for domestic violence victims or families with children. It is recommended to call a site if possible before hand for more information.

The temporary accommodations will also have staff on hand to help a client stabilize their situation then eventually find a permanent home somewhere in London. Since the housing is so expensive in the city, there will be a review of places in the outlying boroughs. Or the vulnerable individual can explore financial aid programmes while they are staying at the shelter, such as local council schemes.

Independent short term housing providers

The Forest Churches Emergency Night Shelter is run in partnership with various faith based groups in Waltham Forest as well as Fountain of Peace Day Centre. The location will vary by month and night as it changes between different churches. People that drop in at the shelterwill also be given a hot drink or clothing, as resources allow. Call 07739 870411 for the location.

999 Club Nightshelter will assist anyone that is homeless in London. Refugees, people of all religions, and all boroughs can drop in at 21 Deptford Broadway, London, SE8 4PA, dial 020 8694 5797.

The Crashpad is only for young people under the age of 18 that are local to LB Brent. It is a hostel type arrangement in which a room may be given out for a new night stay. The address is 34 Wembley Hill Road, Wembley.

Croydon Churches Floating Shelter – All applicants need to be from the borough. A staff member will assess them and place them into the shelter. This will then maybe lead to long term, floating housing for the client. The telephone is 07860 270278.

Irish Centre Housing – Conway House focuses on immigrants, specifically those from Ireland. The locations is also only for men from the community that need support. The accommodations are at 20-22 Quex Road, London, NW6 4PG. Telephone number is 020 7372 6633.

Joel Community Trust Night Shelter can be used by anyone in city. There are no restrictions to what borough a person lives in. The shelter is at 36a Fife Road, Kingston upon Thames, KT1 1SU, or ring 020 8255 7400.

Missionaries Of Charity is located at 112-116 St George’s Road. This shelter is only for men over the age of 25. They can’t have any other resources available to them, not even welfare. So the housing is a last resort. Home of Peace is another option, and this site is at 179 Bravington Road with a phone of 020 8960 2644.

A referral is needed from the Bidborough House at 20 Mabledon Place to use the One Support hostel. There are several rooms available for those that were evicted, and call 020 7974 5801 for the referral.

North London YMCA provides hostel to anyone in age from 18 – 35. They will be given clothing as well as a meal and other support. A volunteer from the YMCA will also assess the client for any of the permanent housing solutions that they are involved in administering. There is even housing for ex-offenders too. Address is 184 Tottenham Lane, London, N8 8SG, call 020 8340 2345.

Providence Row Ha – Dellow Centre will help people over the age of 18. Key workers will help those battling an addiction as well. The location will also provide the person a hot meal or other practical support items, such as laundry. Address – Albert Jacob House, 62 Roman Road, London, E2 0PG, call 020 7364 7151.

Shelters that operate in the winter

Bromley Winter Night Shelter is open to both single people and couples in the borough. The months the shelter is available will be from November to April, and it is based at the Civic Centre, with a telephone number of 07806 602347. The churches offer food, accommodations and support

Caris Islington Churches Cold Weather Shelter – Residents need to call 07913 020738 for location.

Hackney Winter Night Shelter – This location is for rough sleepers and the homeless. It will get them off the streets during the cold winter nights in London. The exact address of this centre will also change between local churches and charities, and ring 07702 799543 for a referral. It may be relocated to a new site each week.

Haringey & Enfield Churches Winter Shelter – All clients will be given short term accommodations to stay in. In addition, the staff from this not-for-profit will work with the individual to help them break the cycle of homelessness. They will offer everything from job training to information on programmes such as welfare and more. The council for Haringey or Enfield can give a referral.

Redbridge Cold Weather Shelter is for anyone that is homeless. It will usually be open from October to April and is run in partnership with the Salvation Army at 15 Clements Road, Ilford, call 020 8478 2961.

Housing providers that have multiple locations

There are several of these organisation across London. One advantage to them is that if a unit is full to capacity, then the applicant may be able to go to another housing site. Also, they often have numerous assistance programmes for vulnerable residents.

CentrePoint has emergency shelters that only focus on homeless. However the are units for both men and women in London.

• 30 Llanover Road in North Wembley (phone 020 7423 68550 is for single men.
• 25 Berwick Street is for young people under the age of 18.

Look Ahead will support the vulnerable of various backgrounds. They have hostels for substance mis-users as well as the disabled. Other housing is for women, men, and children, so the type of services is extensive.

• David Barker House – 115a Blackfriars Road, London, SE1 8NZ, dial 020 7922 0290.
• Joe Richard House is for those with a mental illness or substance abuse, and the location is 100 Queen’s Road in London.
• The Coninghams is only for people from Hammersmith & Fulham. This housing centre will even take people with pets. Address is 145 King Street, London, W6 9XY, phone 020 8753 4142.
• LB Southwark Housing Options Centre, 25 Bournemouth Road is for single homeless women. A safe home is also for those fleeing domestic violence.

Salvation Army has two locations. They are the Booth House Social Service Centre at 153-175 Whitechapel Road, London as well as Alsop Court at 18 Great Peter Street. Phone – 020 7233 0296. Staff give people help from a programme of training to develop life skills and hopefully enable residents to move into their own flat.

St Mungo’s also operates several temporary housing sites. They also give clients help from a key worker. This will provide them with information on how to break the cycle of poverty and find a stable home to live in. So a main focus is on locating a new accomodation, whether in the private sector or social housing, for the client to live in.

• 2-5 Birkenhead Street, London, phone 020 7841 7140
• 83 Endell Street shelter can be called at 020 8297 5930.
• 1 Arlington Close off Ennersdale Road in the Hither Green borough of London.
• 146 Mare Street Hostel at London, E8 3SG, phone 020 8525 7700.