THE final 26 people will stay at this winter's city night shelter as it opens its doors for the final time tonight.
Since the shelter, which is held in a different church in the city each night on a weekly rota, was set up at the beginning of December, 200 different people have used it.
The organisers from Derby City Mission, who set up the four-month project designed to get rough sleepers off the streets overnight during the cold winter months, have hailed its first year has a "great success".
Each church, including Derby Cathedral, has been able to take a maximum of 35 people each night, and has been manned by up to 200 volunteers on a rota.
Night shelter organiser Chandra Morbey said: "We had a slowish start as people got to know about the project but it has been increasingly busy, especially during February.
"Fortunately, for those who sleep rough, it has been a milder winter but if it had been colder then I think we would have been overwhelmed."
Official figures from Derby City Council show that 47 people are sleeping out on Derby's streets but Mrs Morbey said the reality is that the figure is difficult to compile because not every homeless person sleeps rough.
She said: "There is a great variation in the people using the shelter. One person stayed for 100 nights, while others were only here for a night or two. But there was usually one new person each night."
A review of how the project, which cost in the region of £50,000 with most of the funding donated, will now take place to see how effective it has been.
Mrs Morbey said: "We have to see if the venues, volunteers and funding would be in place again in the future but I would like to see it happen again."
The project was also an opportunity for linking up the rough sleepers with various organisations that could potentially help them with advice on accommodation or benefits.
This has resulted in practical help for some people such as food parcels and new homes for others.
Mrs Morbey said: "One guest, who has been living in Derby and homeless on and off for several years left us two weeks ago for a place at an alcohol rehabilitation centre.
"He wrote us a letter saying 'Thank you very much everyone. I know now that everyone believes in me and I won't let them down. The night shelter is needed in every city, not just Derby'."
Another guest, who has been in the UK for a year but left his accommodation when he lost his job, has moved into a rented home. He said: "Thanks to everyone. You have helped me to start a new life."
The churches which took part in the project also included: Pear Tree Baptist Church; Central United Reformed Church; Hope Centre, part of Derby City Church; New Life Christian Centre; Ozzy Road Baptist Church and St John the Evangelist.
Dean of Derby Dr John Davies said: "The Cathedral was delighted to be part of this project.
"Weekly, we made the Cathedral available as a night shelter, providing access to loos, a kitchen and providing heating too.
"Beds were set up at the west end of the Cathedral with the help of our volunteers.
"As the city council can do less in these times of austerity, we were glad to be part of the organisation which could step in to help."
