St Edmundsbury Borough Council engage with homeless as Bury St Edmunds freezes

Sixteen people are thought to be sleeping rough in Bury St Edmunds this week, as temperatures drop.

With the thermostat reaching -°4 at times overnight, authorities are completing checks to help homeless into accommodation.

St Edmundsbury Borough Council has had severe weather measures in place for weeks.

The number of rough sleepers has reduced from 25 in September, to 20 in December to now 16, or 20 if the whole borough is included.

A tweet sent out from the council said: “An early start as we go out to check the number of people out rough sleeping in St Edmundsbury. We continue to try to engage them in the support and accommodation that is available.”

West Suffolk councils are not opening a specific winter shelter this season now year-round temporary accommodation and support staff are in place.

The authorities helped launch the Looking for Change campaign which encourages donating to their services rather than to anyone begging.

Councillor Sara Mildmay-White said: “Over the past year the council has invested in all-year round accommodation to help rough sleepers off of the streets.

“Crucially with that accommodation, comes support staff to help the individuals with whatever issues they face to try to prevent them from returning to the streets.”

The weather is forecast to stay above freezing until at least Tuesday (January 29).