These shelters help reduce reliance on both primary and secondary care services by protecting individuals from extreme temperatures, supporting personal hygiene, and improving safety. They may also enhance quality of life and reduce the risk of drug- or alcohol-related harm, mental health crises, and preventable medical emergencies.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), with the Centre for Homelessness Impact, produced “Integrated Health and Social Care for People Experiencing Homelessness”. While it doesn’t explicitly recommend street shelters or pods, it focuses on integrated, long-term strategies to meet complex health and care needs.

We fully support this long-term vision. However, the reality is that many people are currently sleeping rough, without access to even the most basic human need: shelter.

Ideally, everyone would have access to self-contained accommodation with a private washroom, kitchen, and a proper bed. But for many, that is still out of reach. Emergency shelters offer a crucial first step—getting people off the streets, out of doorways, and away from unsafe tent encampments.

Any form of shelter reduces the health risks of rough sleeping—such as exposure, hypothermia, and worsening chronic conditions. These temporary units also act as a bridge to more stable housing and services.