Call to help Wiltshire's homeless as cold snap approaches

We're being urged to help Wiltshire's homeless this winter as the coldest months of the year arrive.

The call comes from Wiltshire Council's Rough Sleeper Team, who've helped 275 people end their homelessness in the last 12 months.

The team helped Alice find safety, after she and her partner were left to sleep on the streets in a tent.

One of those who helped Alice is Geraldine.

She helped Alice and her partner move into a hostel and then a permanent home.

"As soon as Alice came to the Haven you could see the relief that she was safe indoors, she could sleep in a bed and she was able to lock the door," Geraldine said.

"Within a day I noticed the difference in Alice, her whole outlook on life completely changed, she started smiling again, she was cooking and she felt like she had a home," she added.

Geraldine says the role of the Rough Sleeper Team is to help homeless people overcome barriers.

She said: "It could be with not being with a GP, it could be that they’ve not got benefits in place, it could be that they’re in debt or have housing related issues. We want to overcome those barriers and support them in the hope that they do eventually get their forever home.

"Everybody deserves to have a home.”

We can help those on the streets find safety and warmth this winter by using Streetlink to notify the Council of where homeless people are.

The team will try to locate the individual, assess their needs, and offer appropriate support services with the aim of ending their homelessness.

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