A group of student activists have occupied a building owned by one of Oxford University's colleges and are using the space as a shelter for the city's homeless.
The facility has its own kitchen and showers and 14 people have been sleeping there since New Year's Eve.
The building has been vacant since it was purchased by Oxford's Wadham College in 2015.
The building is eventually intended to be turned into student accommodation, but the squatters have sent an open letter asking for their permission to continue using the space for the rest of the winter.
"The situation for rough sleepers and homeless people in Oxford is now at a critical point," the letter states.
A video showing work at the shelter. Credit: Insightshare
"Oxford University and colleges like Wadham own dozens of buildings across the city which lie empty, some of which have been empty for almost a decade; that could be repurposed as shelters, social housing and social spaces."
Figures show the number of rough sleepers in Oxford has more than trebled since the election of the Tory-led coalition government in 2010, with similar rises in homelessness seen across the country.
Sandra Phillips, one of the activists running the shelter, said the homelessness crisis in Oxford had been exacerbated by the council's decision to reduce its funding for homeless support by 38 percent last year, as part of wider budget cuts.
"61 beds were lost in 2016 with the closure of Lucy Faithfull House, which had been offering support to rough sleepers in Oxford for 30 years," Ms Phillips told the Independent.
"A further 202 beds will be lost over the next 12 months. But this space is vast - it could literally house every homeless person in Oxford."
A Change.org petition asking the college to "do the right thing for homeless people this winter" has gathered over 2,000 signatures.
Julia Banfield, director of communications at Wadham Colllege, said: "Wadham College has been contacted by an organisation requesting the use of the old VW garage on Iffley Road as a temporary shelter and we are aware that some homeless people have entered various parts of the building.
"Wadham is investigating the ramifications of this move, with particular concern for the safety of those who are sleeping rough in an old and dilapidated building.
"The college will be making every effort to speak to representatives of this homeless group as well as local residents, safety experts and the site developers."
Featured Image Credit: Insightshare