Emergency homelessness accommodation has opened in Gateshead with the aim to provide greater support for people who find themselves sleeping rough.
The six-bed accommodation offers 24/7 support from on-site staff and promises to be more than a "sticking plaster" for people experiencing homelessness.
Residents will receive a robust support plan catered to the individual to help them work towards living independently in permanent housing.
Homelessness charity Oasis Community Housing and Gateshead Council have been working together throughout the coronavirus pandemic to open the accommodation.
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Alex Laing, Head of Oasis Community Housing's Resettlement Team, said: "The pandemic flagged the need for emergency homelessness accommodation now more than ever.
"It made us realise there needs to be something fit-for-purpose to fill this gap."
More than 37,000 people who had been rough sleeping or at risk of homelessness were moved into hotels and B&Bs last summer due to Covid-19 as part of the Government's Everyone In initiative.
But the charity said that hotels were often miles from town centres and rooms were only equipped with a kettle, therefore people struggled to access affordable food and day-to-day support.
The emergency homelessness accommodation includes on-site cooking and washing facilities, where staff will be on hand to support residents if needed.
Alex, who led Oasis Community Housing's part in Everyone In, added: "Giving people a roof overhead doesn't fix homelessness.
"Sometimes people won't know how to cook or wash their clothes let alone set up bills. We'd rather take four hours showing them how to do this than offer a sticking plaster and do it for them.
"Our staff will offer round-the-clock support right the way through to people moving into their own home.
"We may be the most secure relationship a lot of people have in their lives, so we want to ensure we're delivering the support people really need to live confidently and independently in their own home, when the time comes."
The new homelessness accommodation can be accessed through Gateshead Council's housing service or via Oasis Community Housing's Basis drop-in centres at Warwick Street, Gateshead, and Park Road Church in Sunderland.
For more information, visit www.oasiscommunityhousing.org
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