Peterborough charity hopes cold snap brings warmth to those facing homelessness
Severe weather emergency provision for rough sleepers is in place
A Peterborough charity has told us it's vital more warm spaces are made available for young people at risk of homelessness across Cambridgeshire.
Light Project Peterborough provides overnight accommodation and employment support to rough sleepers and homeless people to help people get back on their feet.
The charity sees around 300-400 new people a year needing its services, including those who are or have been made homeless.
And their ‘homeless hub’, the Garden House, sees an average of one new walk-in per day.
Warmer weather is due to come following a cold snap - Steven Pettican's the CEO of Light Project Peterborough:
‘If you have to put that one person back on the street that’s quite taxing," he said.
‘It’s quite a pressure emotionally trying to help people as much as you can but sometimes you can’t help as much as you want to.
"Some folks may not be ready to accept some of the accommodation that's in place, or not relaxed or stable enough, or fearful of going to a new place.
"We'll help people with their housing, health, move forward into training and employment and we'll bring in different partners like the NHS to encourage those partners to work with people to help them move off the streets and fulfil their potential."
‘Sometimes you can just do as much as you can do, then you need to let it go’
Severe weather provision, which provides emergency accommodation for rough sleepers, has been put in place by Peterborough City Council until tomorrow as temperatures start to rise.
Steven said there may be more people living rough that haven't looked for help.
"Some people might be hiding away and are not verified as a rough sleeper," he added.
"Through the day we expect to see people smile a little bit more and have a little bit more hope."