Emmanuel House’s winter shelter provided vital support to rough sleepers last winter, with a growing number of refugees and asylum seekers finding safety and pathways to housing.
From October 2024 to April 2025, Emmanuel House’s Nottingham Winter Shelter once again proved to be a vital lifeline for those facing homelessness. Operating from a newly refurbished city centre location, the shelter provided up to 30 beds each night for 25 weeks – offering warmth, safety, and hope to 129 individuals.
Meeting complex needs with compassion
The 2024-25 season saw a significant shift in the guest profile, with a rise in refugees and asylum seekers, making up 44% of the shelter’s population. Many arrived with no income and faced complex immigration challenges, often discharged from Home Office accommodation with little time or support to secure housing. Despite these hurdles, the shelter adapted swiftly, offering culturally sensitive care and mental health support to those navigating trauma and uncertainty.
Positive outcomes and pathways forward
One of the shelter’s proudest achievements was helping 52 guests (40% of those accommodated) move on to more stable housing. This included placements in supported housing, tenancies, and our new 7-bed hostel introduced last season. These outcomes reflect the dedication of staff and volunteers who worked to support guests in rebuilding their lives.
A community effort in a challenging landscape
The shelter operated under a 12/7 model, open nightly from 8pm to 8am. Guests benefited from access to Emmanuel House’s day centre services also in the city centre, including breakfasts, lunches and ongoing support.
Despite accommodating fewer guests than last year, the shelter’s reduced capacity was not due to a decline in homelessness. Rough sleeping in Nottingham remains alarmingly high. Instead, limited staffing and resources meant that some applicants had to be turned away due to their level of need, underscoring the urgent need for increased funding and support.
Looking ahead: your support matters
As in previous years, the Emmanuel House Winter Shelter was a lifeline for the ever-increasing numbers of rough sleepers in Nottingham. But it also revealed the growing pressures on our services. To continue offering this essential lifeline, we need your help.
Whether through donations, volunteering, or advocacy, your support ensures that Emmanuel House can keep its doors open to those who need it most. Together, we can build a future where no one has to face the cold alone.
Join us in making a difference.
