“‘We don’t give up’: Suffolk rough sleeper service prepares for winter”
Anglia Care Trust says they're working hard with the resources they have to try and help people
Last updated 28th Oct 2025
As temperatures begin to fall across the UK, a local homelessness support worker has spoken about the risks faced by people sleeping rough and urged the public to act with compassion and understanding.
Winter risks to "health, safety and wellbeing"
Katy Smith, operational manager for Anglia Care Trust, helps to oversee the charity’s rough sleeper services across Suffolk and Essex. She says cold weather brings a heightened risk to people already living in vulnerable conditions.
“For people who are rough sleeping, there’s the obvious risks of a decline in their pre-existing medical conditions, as well as deterioration in their mental health and well-being, but there's the added risk that people might not be aware of, that people might take up accommodation in an unsafe place or stay in an environment that isn't good for them in order not to rough sleep,” she said.
When asked what she meant by staying in an "unsafe place" she explained that rough sleepers may turn to someone who is dangerous, whether it's substance-related, an abusive relationship, or someone who puts the individual at risk in some way or another.
Smith said the team works hard to support those without secure accommodation, but that external pressures and lack of resources can make the job more challenging.
“It’s out of our control, really, all the outside influences that make our role more difficult,” she said. “But you just have to try and find ways around it, and you don’t give up either.”
She explained that recovery from homelessness takes time and effort on both sides.
“This is going to be a long road. This isn’t going to be a shortcut into getting your own accommodation,” she said. “You need to put the work into yourself just as much as what we’re putting into you. There is no point in saying, ‘You’ve got a bed today and tomorrow you’ll have your own flat,’ because it just isn’t the case.”
How the public can help
As winter approaches, Smith urged members of the public to help by using StreetLink, an online service that alerts local authorities to people sleeping rough.
“If you do see anyone rough sleeping, report it via StreetLink,” she said. “That will send a notification to the nearest local authority, who can make sure that outreach services are going out to check on their welfare and to start that first point of contact to get them off the streets.”
Addressing the stigma surrounding homelessness, Smith said it’s important to remember that rough sleepers are people who deserve empathy, not judgment.
“They’re someone’s son, daughter, mother, father, they’re human beings,” she said. “They’re just like we are. They’re just in a really unfortunate situation."
Anglia Care Trust continues to work with local authorities and outreach teams to provide housing support, guidance, and practical help for people facing homelessness across Suffolk and Essex.