09 Jan Leading Basildon councillor visits winter night shelter
A leading borough councillor has paid a visit to the borough’s winter night shelter to meet volunteers and the guests who stay there.
As temperatures drop and winter takes hold Basildon Emergency Night Shelter (BENS) is a lifeline to those who would otherwise have nowhere warm to stay overnight.
This year the night shelter is open for five nights each week rather than three until 31 March.
Cllr Gavin Callaghan, Basildon Council’s Chairman of the Policy & Resources Committee, visited the shelter at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Wickhay, on Monday evening.
He said: “The night shelter provides a safe and warm place for guests to sleep over in the cold winter months. This can be a dangerous time of year for people living on the streets.
“Tackling homelessness is major priority for the council. We do not want to see people homeless and forced to sleep rough. We will continue to do everything in our power to support people into housing and support voluntary groups and organisations who are able to provide frontline support such as the shelter.
“Our work on homelessness is award winning and we are fortunate to have a dedicated pool of volunteers across the borough who support the running of a homeless shelter”.
