Riviera Hotel offers roof to rough sleepers during winter
Ten rooms have been opened up as temperatures plummet during the evening.
Weymouth's Riviera Hotel has been opening it's doors to rough sleepers as temperatures plummet during the evenings.
There are 10 rooms currently in use by the Safe Sleep project, run by The Lantern Trust.
Before coronavirus, the project was run in close quarters in church buildings, but that wasn't able to continue during the pandemic.
Everyone housed at the Riviera has their own room and access to dedicated support workers 24/7.
Mike Graham is the Lantern Trust's CEO. He said:
"The whole idea is that it's not just a roof, which obviously is essential for people, but it's a starting point. It's 'what can happen next?'
"We introduce that support, we work with our partner agencies from Shelter, to Julian House, to the Bus Shelter, Dorset Council, Weymouth Town Council, and all of us come together to really wrap an intensive support package around someone and give them some support in their life."
The scheme is supported by a number of local businesses that play a vital role in getting those without a home to their own accommodation. For instance, Mike says Weyline Taxis have been helping their guests get to and from various appointments.
Mike added:
"Everything about homelessness and what we've gone through in the pandemic is a societal issue.
"We as a community in Weymouth have got very good at supporting people. It's a real coming together to really look to meet a need of a group of people that sometimes are the most marginalised."