Watford's winter night shelter opens nightly from 9 November to mid-March at New Hope's Haven, Whippendell Road: 15 beds, pets welcome, and how to refer someone.
Watford’s winter night shelter will open every night from Monday 9 November until mid-March, whatever the temperature. It runs at New Hope’s Haven on Whippendell Road and has space for up to 15 guests a night, including people with pets.
The dates and capacity come from Watford Borough Council’s announcement of 26 October and New Hope’s own notice of 27 October. The Watford charity runs the shelter with the council.
Eight winters, more than 480 people
The shelter began as a trial in 2018. Since then it has taken in more than 480 people, the council says.
The figure it puts weight on is what happens next. Of the people who stayed in the last three winters, 55% moved on to longer-term accommodation rather than back onto the street.
Each guest gets:
- a hot meal and drinks
- washing facilities
- clean socks, gloves and other essentials
- advice on housing, healthcare and other services, from staff and trained volunteers
The shelter opens on fixed dates rather than only on freezing nights. Separately, the council can open emergency beds under the Severe Weather Emergency Protocol (SWEP) when the weather turns dangerous.
How many people sleep rough in Watford
The government’s official snapshot counted 12 people sleeping rough in Watford on a single night in autumn 2025, up from 10 a year earlier. It was the borough’s highest figure since 2019, when the count was 19. The peak in the series was 22, in 2014.
Those numbers come from the Rough sleeping snapshot in England: autumn 2025, published by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government on 26 February 2026.
Watford is a small borough, so a handful of people moves the rate a long way. The snapshot puts it at 11.2 people per 100,000 residents in 2025. That is above the average for England, 8.2, and for the East of England, 6.6. Neighbouring Three Rivers recorded 3 people and Hertsmere 2.
The snapshot is one night’s count or estimate, taken between October and November. It misses people sofa surfing, sleeping in cars or hidden from view. It is a floor, not a total. The shelter’s 480 guests over eight winters show how many more people pass through over a season than appear on any one night.
A permanent base on Exchange Road
The council also says it is “progressing plans” to sell 122 Exchange Road to New Hope. The charity already runs the Sanctuary, its emergency accommodation, next door at 124 Exchange Road. New Hope describes the plan as creating a homelessness hub.
The council has not published a price, a timetable or a planning application for the building. We will report those when they appear.
What it means for you
- If you see someone sleeping rough in Watford, call New Hope’s 24-hour line on 0300 012 0168, or send their location to StreetLink. If someone is in danger, call 999.
- To volunteer at the shelter, New Hope lists its openings on its winter shelter page and its volunteering page.
- To give, the council points to New Hope’s Christmas appeal at newhope.org.uk/biggive. The council says donations of clothing and toiletries, and offers of services such as haircuts, also help.
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