Rough sleepers, including ex-offenders, put up in luxury hotel rooms

Rough sleepers, including ex-offenders, are being temporarily housed in luxury hotel rooms in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

Council chiefs booked the rooms as it wanted people off the streets during lockdown.

Twenty people who were sleeping rough or made homeless are being supported in the Twin Oaks Hotel, off junction 29 of the M1.

North East Derbyshire District Council said it wanted people away from public places where they can receive mental health and rehab support.

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Everyone accommodated in the hotel has access to drug and alcohol treatment, and physical or mental health support.

Workers would previously have handed out food and tents to people on the streets, but have now adapted their service to offer free hotel digs.

Since moving into the hotel 11 weeks ago, most of the people who had been sleeping rough have reported "huge positive changes" in their lives, according the council.

The authority added they want to "make the most of this opportunity to receive the help, support and housing they need".

Leader of North East Derbyshire District Council, Councillor Martin Thacker, MBE, said, “It is an incredible achievement what has been done to help those who were homeless in our district.

“The level of support we and our partners are able to offer is meaning guests are able to access the help they need to address any physical or mental health issues, enabling them to use this opportunity to turn their lives around and successfully move on to settled housing."

Support teams point out the hotel accommodation is only temporary and concentration will be on move-on for when the lockdown lifts.

The council said 95% of those currently being shielded in the hotel have a 'recovery and move on' plan in place for when the provision comes to an end.