UK mosques open doors to homeless amid freezing weather

Local Muslim communities have taken the initiative to host the homeless during what has been described as the UK's “worst weather in years”.

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04 Mar, 2018

THe number of rough sleepers is expected to rise to 15,000 by 2026 [Getty]

Dozens of mosques across the UK have opened their doors for thousands of homeless people as the country continues to struggle with freezing temperatures this week.

While most of the country faces sub zero temperatures, an approximate 8,000 rough sleepers suffer on the streets of the UK, according to figures by homelessness charity, Crisis.

But local Muslim communities have taken the initiative to host the homeless during what has been described as the UK's “worst weather in years”, after the the Met Office issued a red warning on Thursday.

The rough sleepers, which are expected to increase to 15,000 by 2026 "if nothing changes”, according to the Crisis report published in January, were welcomed in for hot food, beverages and a warm place to sleep.

Along with invitations to the mosques, praise for the community work was widely shared by social media users online.

Among the multiple mosques involved in the show of goodwill are Leeds Grand Mosque, Oldham Mosque, Finsbury Park Mosque, Canterbury Mosque and Dublin's Clonskeagh Mosque, which is part of the Islamic Cultural Centre of Ireland.