HOMELESSNESS / PARTNERSHIP RESPONSE
BENS EMERGENCY NIGHT SHELTERS
A safe place for the night. A chance to take the next step.
BENS (Basildon Emergency Night Shelters) provides emergency winter accommodation in Basildon. The project is owned and led by Churches Together in Basildon; ACE Impact supports coordination, communications and local connections.
WHY IT MATTERS
A safe night can be a starting point.
People experiencing street homelessness need immediate safety, warmth and dignity. Overnight shelter also offers a point of contact with trusted services that can help with longer-term options.
Emergency accommodation is only one part of the response. Venues, volunteers, night staff and local referral partners all play a vital role in making it work.
FROM IDEAS TO ACTION
A partnership that makes safe nights possible.
Churches Together in Basildon leads BENS, working with local venues, volunteers, paid overnight workers and referral agencies. ACE supports coordination and communications. The partnership model is what makes the shelter possible.
01
Respond
Provide urgent overnight accommodation through an established local partnership.
02
Coordinate
Bring together the people, premises and practical arrangements needed for safe delivery.
03
Connect
Help guests remain linked to referral partners and homelessness support services.
THE CHANGE WE WANT TO SEE
BENS reported 55 people supported and 1,095 bed stays in 2025/26. Those figures describe the work of the BENS partnership, not ACE Impact alone. The wider goal is safety, trust and progress towards more stable circumstances.
55
individuals supported by BENS in 2025/26
1,095
BENS bed stays in 2025/26
These are BENS partnership outcomes. ACE’s coordination contribution must not be confused with sole delivery or sole attribution.
GET INVOLVED
Every safe night matters.
The shelters depend on volunteers, local venues, donors and partners. If your organisation could support BENS, contact ACE Impact to discuss current opportunities and the appropriate route into the partnership.
Editorial review note — draft only: Confirm 2026/27 dates, opening arrangements, venues, referral process and the latest BENS figures. Verify Churches Together in Basildon’s leadership attribution and obtain partner approvals for publicly displayed branding.