The Open Door homeless hub located at Bricket Road can accommodate 12 people year-round with 12 ensuite bedrooms, but for the ninth winter running the charity will provide additional emergency accommodation throughout the coldest season. This year the charity will partner with St Albans Council to deliver the project.

The Winter Beds Project provides people who would otherwise be rough sleeping with a safe warm space to sleep each night when the 12 bed spaces at the homeless hub are full.

Guests of the project are supported in finding secure accommodation to move on to by the rough sleeper outreach team.

Last year, the project ran from November through to the beginning of April and accommodated 21 people, 9 of whom moved on to long-term housing and 7 moved into temporary accommodation.

Rachel Merelie, Chair of the Open Door Board of Trustees, commented:

With your help, we can make the sleepout on Friday 13th November 2026 a huge success and make a real difference to vulnerable people in St Albans this winter.

So come and join us for an evening of music, entertainment, workshops, and a bit of a reality check, to see what life is like for some of those that we support. This will be the most memorable thing you will do this winter.

If you would like to take part in our Sleepout but would like to stay at home, then why not take part in our virtual Sleepout. All you need to do is pitch a tent in your garden, make a bed out of cardboard, or even build a den. It is completely up to you how you wish to sleepout and you can be as creative as you like, as long as you are away from the comforts of your own bed.

There is no cost to take part or a minimum fundraising target, we just ask you raise as much as you can. Fundraising contributions make a real difference to the lives of people in crisis who are either homeless or facing homelessness.

So what are you waiting for? Round up a group of friends, family or work colleagues and sign up today to raise money to support homeless people in St Albans.