Peterborough charity 'busier than ever' in fight against homelessness
It said that there's more than one new person a day seeking help
A charity in Peterborough has said it's not shying away from the challenge of helping the city's homeless this winter.
The city council is set to receive an extra £222,000 as part of the Government's £50 million Homelessness Prevention Grant for local authorities in England.
Including 'top-up' payments, Peterborough will receive £2.81m for 2025/26 to help prevent homelessness among households at risk of losing their homes.
"It is always a challenge, especially around funding, but we recognise there's a desperate need to be able to provide further support," Paddy Berryman, services manager at Light Project Peterborough, said.
"Our numbers have gone up so we need the staff levels to be at a good ratio to be able to provide full support, so we're doing what we can to rise to that challenge."
'Busier than ever'
In October, Light Project Peterborough saw 44 new presentations, where a person or household contacts the charity about support with homelessness for the first time.
Through its Garden House project in the city centre, it allows people on the streets to access different services, from showers and hot food to drug and alcohol support, as well as mental health help.
It is also running women only sessions after seeing a rise in the number of female visitors feeling intimidated by male presence due to past trauma.
Mr Berryman said the charity is "busier than ever" trying to offer support for those in need, some for the first time.
"A lot of people are finding they're living pay cheque to pay cheque, and one thing can mean they spiral in terms of losing their accommodation whether that's through relationship breakdown or eviction," he said.
"We used to say we get one new person a day on average; that's definitely increased now."
'There is a big challenge'
Two months ago, the Government confirmed local authorities in the East of England would receive £4m as part of an £84m scheme to try and tackle homelessness nationally this year.
According to the charity Shelter, one in 306 people in Peterborough this year are homeless, the highest rate in Cambridgeshire.
While figures from youth homelessness charity Centrepoint show between October and December this year, 2,700 people in the East may present themselves as homeless.
Mr Berryman believes funding can go some way to helping more people off the streets.
"There is a big challenge in terms of the lack of available housing at the moment, and there are day centres like the Garden House that are struggling financially and could do with a boost," he added.
"I think a big part of what we do is provide that hope, whether we've managed to get someone into accommodation that night or move them forward in a month's time, we feel we are making a difference to a huge number of lives."