Housing association in Lincolnshire at full capacity with demand still growing
It comes as the weather has taken a turn this week, with freezing temperatures and snow.
A Housing Association that supports those across Lincolnshire and Newark says they're concerned for the welfare of those who're left on our streets with the weather turning.
This week temperatures have reached freezing levels, with snowfall also seen.
It's so cold that even councils like Lincoln, Boston and Newark have began operating under severe emergency weather provisions to provide shelter for those who are most vulnerable.
Sandra Blow is the Operations Manager for the Framework Housing Association in Lincolnshire. She says the weather changes are yet another risk for those who're sleeping rough:
"We're busy, very busy. So, all of our accommodation is pretty much full. We've always got a lot of referrals. So to give you an example, in the most recent quarter, so that's July through to September, we had 157 referrals for the accommodation, that's just referrals. Not how many people we've got in.
"So we have up to 192 individuals at any one time across the county. We also have accommodation in each of the individual districts.
"So we had 157 new referrals for accommodation, on top of the 192 people we've already got housed. So that gives you a bit of a indication of the shortage of emergency accommodation.
"We're all struggling with the higher price rises, being able to feed yourself, keep warm, all of those essential things, you know, everybody's struggling, but I suppose the danger is that people have to make a choice. Are you going to stay warm? Are you going to eat? Are you going to pay your rent?"
Sandra added how she's seen and spoken with many who have experienced homelessness:
"It's grim for anybody. Any time of year. You're in danger of being assaulted, the likelihood of you reaching an old age is minimal, you're going to be exposed to being victimised, and abused by all, and physical health, mental health are all going to wane, and in this weather - even more so.
"I would expect that people are desperate at this point and so they will pretty much do anything for a warm space.
"You know, during COVID, rough sleepers sort of disappeared off the streets altogether, as they were being housed. But you see it a lot now. It's just miserable. I don't think those of us that haven't experienced it, can even comprehend what that's like, that fear. The fear of you don't know what's going to happen from minute to minute."
To find out more about what Framework do, and their services, take a look on their website: https://www.frameworkha.org/get-help/