The world’s first vending machine for homeless people has opened in England. At a shopping centre in Nottingham, homeless people can take up to three items per day using a special key card. Food, water, clothing, blankets and toiletries are available 24 hours a day. To keep the card activated, users must attend support services once a week.
The scheme was launched by charity Action Hunger, to ensure homeless people have access to services outside the hours of available charities and shelters. The machines are inexpensive and economical to run, and Action Hunger works with other support services and charities in the area to provide the free goods they contain. Volunteers keep the machines stocked, and donors include major UK supermarkets Waitrose, Tesco and Sainsbury’s. Last year, at least 4,000 people were sleeping rough on the streets across the UK.