Dozens of rough sleepers housed in Chesterfield hotel during pandemic

Homeless people have been staying at the Twin Oaks Hotel in Palterton during the pandemic.

In response to the crisis, a total of 20 men and women have been staying at the Twin Oaks Hotel in Palterton.

North East Derbyshire District Council took action to ensure that residents were not only protected from Covid-19, but also had access to mental health support and rehabilitation programmes to give them the support and help they need to move on successfully into settled housing.

Everyone accommodated in the hotel has access to a joined-up treatment and support service that helps guests to address their drug and alcohol use, and receive help with any physical or mental health issues.

Some of the groups that are involved in the project have previously handed out food and tents to people on the streets but have now adapted their service to help the rough sleepers in the hotel instead.

Since moving into the hotel 11 weeks ago, most of the people who had been sleeping rough, including many of the most entrenched rough sleepers, have made huge, positive changes in their lives and said they want to make the most of this opportunity to receive the help, support and housing they need.

A wide range of other services and organisations including Pathways of Chesterfield, P3, Police, NHS and Public Health England and Probation teams have also been assisting to make sure people are off the streets and into safe accommodation.

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

“The collaborative work between Derbyshire local authorities and emergency services has resulted in successfully accommodating and supporting those who were extremely vulnerable in the 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.”