Wycombe Winter Night Shelter worked flat out during freeze (From Bucks Free Press)

Wycombe Winter Night Shelter worked flat out during freeze

2:02pm Thursday 31st January 2013 in News By Simon Farr

A HOMELESS charity said it has been working flat out during the recent freezing weather - with dozens of people seeking refuge in its Winter Night Shelter.

As the snow hit, the Wycombe Homeless Connection was inundated with people needing hot food and a roof over their head - with 31 referred to them by Wycombe District Council and 19 put up at the shelter.

All of the 12 beds available have been filled for more than a week and other people have been put up in bed and breakfast hotels by the council.

The charity is urging private landlords to consider letting properties to those in need to accommodate the growing homeless problem in the district.

Paul Griggs, Support Worker at the charity, said: "Folk are visibly cold when they come to the shelter in the evenings. They are just so grateful to come in out of the bitter freezing temperatures.

"You hear their stories, you get to know them and it’s just desperate to see them continue to be homeless. We badly need landlords to come forward so we can get these people off the street."

Dr Sheena Dykes, Chair of Trustees, is also pleading for people to donate cash or volunteer for the charity to ensure it can continue supporting the homeless.

She said: "Many of us are much closer to homelessness than we think. Some people are only two pay cheques away from losing their homes.

"It’s a sobering thought and defies popular misconceptions about all homeless people being addicts or feckless; often they’re just folk like us who have encountered tough circumstances."

Residents can donate by texting WYHC08 and an amount (eg: WYHC08 £5) to 70070 or visit www.wyhoc.org.uk for more information.