Mental health charity struggling to help homeless

Men’s Shed trustees Dave Smith, Rob Johnstone and Richard Bradford

A charity that supports men with their mental health says they are seeing increasing numbers of homeless people needing help.

Men's Shed, in Fleetwood, said homelessness is a significant issue in the town, but the charity is not equipped to give people all the support required.

Trustee Dave Smith said people in need "hear about us and think we can do everything. We can't."

The council said "there are a number of temporary accommodation options" available in the area".

'Merry-go-round'

"Homelessness is a big problem," said Mr Smith.

"It's a sad state of affairs. People come from broken relationships - they come down the tram tracks from Blackpool.

"They must hear about us and think we can do everything.

But he added: "We can't if you don't have a local connection."

He said they will always try to help, but sometimes their assistance can be abused.

"In the past two weeks alone, we've put three people in temporary accommodation who have come back drunk," he said. "They've been abusive to the caretakers or people who run the facility, and they've been kicked back out again."

"So they're back on the street and they come back to us - like a merry-go-round."

The trustees, Dave Smith, Rob Johnstone and Richard Bradford, all initially approached the charity to ask for help and now run groups, including social nights, a veterans' breakfast and a women's group.

Mr Bradford estimated 100 people "come through our doors each week, easy".

He said he came to the group, which was founded in 2018, after struggling with anxiety and depression

"You're getting guys through who think they're on their own, and I've been through that myself so it makes them more relaxed," he said. "But it's like my own therapy as well.

Wyre Council said: "When someone has a local connection to Wyre, and is deemed to be homeless and considered vulnerable [priority need], the council have a duty to provide temporary accommodation.

"There are a number of temporary accommodation options in Wyre, including supported accommodation for families, young people, vulnerable adults, as well as general needs self-contained units."