DENS is an independent charity, supporting homeless people in and around the Dacorum area of Hertfordshire - Hemel Hempstead, Berkhamsted, Tring, Kings Langley and the surrounding villages.

DENS started in 1998 as a temporary winter night shelter rotating around a number of the local church halls, during the worst winter months.
In 2003 DENS opened a permanent night shelter, open 365 nights a year and in 2005 DENS opened a Day Centre for 3 days a week. In 2008 DENS began operating the Day Centre on a full time, 5 day a week basis.

DENS currently operates 6 main services; the Day Centre, the Night Shelter, Move-On Accommodation, Resettlement Support, Distribution Service and DENS Property Services.

Day Centre
The DENS Day Centre is open 5 days a week. For 4 days, there is a staggered drop-in service as follows:

Monday, Wednesday & Thursday:
9.30am - 11.30am - Drop-in for rough sleepers
11.30am - 12.30pm - Drop-in for rough sleepers and Night Shelter service users
12.30pm - 2pm - Drop-in for rough sleepers, Night Shelter service users and those in their own accommodation

Tuesday:
9.30am - 11.30am - Drop-in for rough sleepers
11.30am - 2pm - Drop-in for rough sleepers and Night Shelter service users

IT Skills Sessions every Wednesday afternoon during the drop-in session
Visits from a Chiropodist and a Reflexologist once a month

Friday: Appointments Only

The Day Centre is currently looking at expanding the education package, to offer more opportunities for service users to develop new skills, as well as to work on existing ones.

Night Shelter
DENS Night Shelter provides emergency overnight accommodation for homeless people in safe surroundings. The Night Shelter is open 365 nights a year and provides an evening meal, accommodation and breakfast, along with fundamental resettlement support and advice.

People are referred to the Night Shelter through the Hemel Hempstead Police Station, the DENS Day Centre or the Housing Department at the Civic Centre in Hemel Hempstead.

Service users can stay at the Night Shelter for up to 30 nights, during which time they are allocated a Key Worker to help them to address any issues they are currently dealing with, as well as looking to find a longer term housing solution.

Move-On Accommodation
DENS Move-On Accommodation is a longer term housing option for Night Shelter service users who have reached their 30 night limit and have actively engaged with their Key Worker to try and make improvements to their lives.

The Move-On Accommodation provides a stepping stone into independent living, whilst still offering vital support from the DENS Key Workers.

Property Services
DENS Property Services is the first social enterprise for DENS and is a progression from the Move-On Accommodation, providing further housing, training skills and potential employment opportunities for clients.

Resettlement Support
DENS Resettlement Support underpins all of the projects that DENS provides. Each client is assigned a Key Worker who will provide one-to-one support in all aspects of their lives.

This support aims to empower homeless people to achieve permanent and positive changes in their lives, moving closer towards independent living.

Distribution Service
DENS Distribution Service stores and distributes items such as non-perishable food, clothing, toiletries and small household items to DENS, as well as other agencies in the Dacorum area.