New night shelter to open for rough sleepers

The charity has found a building and hopes to open the shelter just before Christmas

A new night shelter for homeless people is set to be opened by a charity.

The facility in North Street, Reading, will provide food and accommodation for rough sleepers in the town.

The Way Ministry charity is asking for donations and volunteers to help achieve its aim of opening the shelter on 22 December.

Founder Grace Gomez hopes it will help people "be safe at night until they can get themselves back on their feet".

The organisation has been running for 11 years, but Ms Gomez says the situation has worsened recently due to the cost of living crisis.

"We've seen the numbers increasing and just hearing awful stories of people having to walk the streets, having nowhere to go," she said.

"It's just awful that in this day and age if that does happen to you... there isn't anywhere that you can go."

Charity founder Grace Gomez says the cost of living crisis has increased the number of homeless people in Reading

She said the night shelter would make "a huge difference to people's mental health and wellbeing".

"When people get homeless they get scared and people are feeling suicidal, it's just awful," she said.

"They'll be able to come in, have a hot meal, have a shower, have something to eat, and get their head down and be safe at night... we're working really hard to make sure we provide a safe place for those people."