WHAT was referred to as a “squatted night shelter” has been set up by volunteers in an old camera shop in Brighton (The Argus, January 7).

I wonder if, before opening up these premises, in order to “house the homeless”, the people involved asked themselves any of the following questions?

Will the volunteers running it be adequately trained to run such a project, as many, if not all, of the homeless using the building will be vulnerable adults with complex needs, such as physical and mental health problems, drug and alcohol dependency, and social isolation?

As well as understanding how these issues impact on those using the building will the volunteers be able to recognise their limits and know how to refer or signpost the occupants to other services when appropriate?

Will the volunteers be trained on all of the practical aspects of running such a project, in order to ensure that both the building and all the people in it are safe at all times; for example, the implications of such legislation as the Health, Safety, and Welfare Act, the Food Standards Act and the Fire Safety Act?

Will they have the skills to produce risk assessments in order to ensure that they are complying with these and all the other laws that cover a project such as this one?

Can they afford the insurance costs involved, bearing in mind that the risks involved within such a project will be far higher than just basic house insurance?

Those five queries are just the start of what the organisers of this shelter should have taken into account before letting a single person use their building.

If they did not then, quite frankly, they will find themselves in very deep water if just one serious incident occurs within this former shop, such as a fire.

In my view they must understand that no one can simply “fling wide the doors and hope for the best”, even with the best motives in mind, and especially when the lives of others could be placed at risk.

Eric Waters, Lancing