Salvation Army Melbourne to open 24 hours a day in summer

THE Salvation Army’s Melbourne city drop-in centre will extend its hours to provide a safe space during the storms and heat of summer.

THE Salvation Army will keep its drop-in centre in central Melbourne open 24 hours a day until February for the city’s homeless during the heat and storms of summer.

Salvos Major Brendan Nottle said the need to help rough sleepers off the streets and into a safe space was as high as ever.

The Bourke St cafe’s hours will also be extended.

As many as 100 people have been sleeping overnight at the Bourke St centre during the recent hot and wet weather.

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Council, which backs the Salvos’ operation, is providing pool passes and movie tickets for the third straight summer.

Acting Lord Mayor Arron Wood said Christmas could be a sad and isolating time for the city’s vulnerable people.

“Particularly in times of ­extreme weather, as we have seen in the past week — heatwaves, storms and floods — we need to look out for each other,’’ Cr Wood said.

“No one has to go without shelter, respite from the heat, storms or rain or a meal in our city.’’

Salvation Army carollers will be roaming the city during December raising money for the Bourke St safe space.

Secure Parking is donating $1 for anyone who books a car park online and enters the “Salvos” code.