January 19, 2019 - 9:14 AM
LONDON - Premier League club Crystal Palace has offered rough sleepers emergency shelter from freezing weather conditions at its stadium.
A lounge at the team's Selhurst Park ground will be turned into an overnight refuge for up to 10 homeless people when temperatures are freezing.
The scheme, for rough sleepers in Croydon, south London, provides a camp bed, a hot dinner, breakfast and washing facilities.
Palace says eight people used the shelter on Thursday night when it was used for the first time.
Chief executive Phil Alexander says the "club wants to be a force for good in the community and we are happy to do our bit to help those most in need."
The space is returned to normal for club use in the mornings and, when the team plays home games, rough sleepers will be referred to other emergency shelters.
___
More AP soccer: https://apnews.com/apf-Soccer and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
News from © The Associated Press, 2019