Night shelter closes for summer due to funding gap

A night shelter for people experiencing homelessness has closed for the summer because of a shortage in funding.

King's Lynn Night Shelter in West Norfolk opened year-round for the first time in 2025 after feedback from its guests.

But director Lucy McKitterick said the charity does not have enough money to do the same this year.

The shelter, which costs around £27,000 a month to run, is expected to reopen in October for the winter season.

Between 1 October 2025 and 1 July 2026 when the shelter closed, 60 people were supported with accommodation.

McKitterick said the very hot weather was a particular challenge for homeless people.

"There is never a good time of year to be homeless, either rough sleeping or sofa surfing," she said.

"Getting cold water, being able to have a shower in the morning and evening, in the daytime if you feel like it, having a cool room to come to, being in the shade, being able to wash your clothes.

"If you're on the streets, none of those is an option."

She said the decision to close had been very difficult for staff as well.

"Until last week, we had 18 paid staff.

"Obviously, I hope that some of them will come back, I certainly can't do this job without them, so I hope they do."

• If you are affected by any of the issues raised in this report, dedicated support can be found on the BBC Action Line.

Army veteran Justin spent four months at the King's Lynn Night Shelter after suffering a mental health breakdown.

He said having somewhere safe and clean to go changed his life.

"I literally had had enough by the time I got here, I had nothing to lose and nowhere to go," he added.

"I was sick of the indignity of being homeless. It's degrading and it's humiliating."

With the help of the shelter staff, Justin got medication for his mental health issues and transitioned to privately rented accommodation.

He has joined the shelter's 60 volunteers helping people with similar experiences to him, to build their own futures.

Justin said having to empty the rooms and turn people away was "heart-breaking".

The shelter relies on fundraising and grants to run its services and does not receive any statutory funding.

Do you have a story suggestion for Norfolk? Contact us below.

Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.