A pilot program to provide emergency shelter for the homeless by housing them in Canberra's churches is looking for volunteers.
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The Safe Shelter program, run out of the hall at St. Columbia's Uniting Church in Braddon, will give eight homeless men a safe place to sleep on Wednesday nights.
The program will run from early May through to the end of September and is looking for volunteers to spend one night each month at the church.
After initial training, the volunteers will spend the night alongside the visitors after greeting them and assessing whether they are under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Safe Shelter's plan to accommodate people overnight in church halls was initially opposed by the government last year, when then community services minister Joy Burch voiced concerns over health and safety requirements.
But recent negotiations have secured approval for the launch of the trial.
Already run successfully in cities such as Brisbane in Sydney, Safe Shelter hopes to break down some of the stigma surrounding homelessness.
Inquiries about volunteering should be emailed to safeshelteract@gmail.com