At present the night shelter only opens when someone requests a bed, but Dunedin Night Shelter deputy chairman David Brown hopes to recruit more volunteers to allow the Manor Pl shelter to stay open seven nights a week.
The Dunedin Night Shelters offers a bed, a warm meal, clean clothes and help to find alternative long-term accommodation to men who need it. Mr Brown said there were many reasons, aside from the more obvious, why men might need to use the night shelter's services.
‘‘People have all sorts of reasons. Students who have had a bust-up in their flat, someone who has come to town looking for a job, people whose car has broken down in town.''
The shelter is hoping to get enough volunteers to run a two-person nightly roster seven days a week.
‘‘We want those who are able to relate to people and make them feel at home.
‘‘I think it's good for a community to look after the more vulnerable people in the community because all of us can be vulnerable.''
Mr Brown said it costs about $58,000 per year to run the night shelter.
While the Dunedin Night Shelter has no facilities for women who find themselves without a bed for the night, they can contact the shelter co-ordinator Frances O'Connell who will help them find suitable accommodation.
• An information night is planned for May 14. If you would like to volunteer phone Dunedin Night Shelter co-ordinator Frances O'Connell on 477-0546.
