Coronavirus restrictions means there'll be less support for Torbay's homeless this Christmas
A Torbay homeless charity says it's deeply worried about those now back on the streets.
Last updated 21st Dec 2020
At the height of the first lockdown homeless people were taken off the streets and put up in places like hotels using Government funding.
At the time Kath Friedrich , who runs the area's biggest out-of-hours foodbank and outreach project called PATH or People Assisting Torbay's Homeless said some of those taken off the streets were 'thriving' thanks to the stability - and she watched some start to turn their lives around.
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Since then the lockdown funding has ended and people have been back on the streets.
This year around 15 people - known to the out-of-hours outreach service - have died.
PATH says as we approach Christmas there's currently people living in tents in Torbay, with one reported to be staying in a bin.
Usually night shelters are set up at this time of year in places like church halls but this year they are not being created because of Covid restrictions and the risk of helping spread the disease.
Torbay Council say it has put extra resources in places - including access to hotels - to help people this Winter.
Leader Steve Darling said: "Because we haven't had the night shelters and the churches we've been buying extra capacity in hotels and B&B accommodation because we're really keen that nobody should be out on the streets at Winter time."
While Torbay Council has a duty of care to accommodate the homeless in certain temperatures and conditions there is no daily support centres planned this Winter.
PATH is planning to serve food on Christmas Day to those in need, as it has in previous years.
For the official Torbay Council homeless support guidance click here
For more about PATH click here