Ipswich homeless winter beds over capacity

The Ipswich International Church was one of eight churches involved in the scheme

A temporary shelter scheme for homeless people in Ipswich has been unable to meet the demand for beds this winter.

Seven church halls in the town have hosted up to 12 people a night on a rotation system since December, providing hot meals and accommodation.

Reverend Paul Daltry said 33 individuals had used the shelters but 55 had been turned away as they were at full capacity.

The scheme is due to end on the weekend of 18/19 February.

Mr Daltry, Minister for Church and Community Engagement, said it was difficult to turn people away from the shelter.

"When you see people in weather like this trudging away, it's been hard," he said.

Permanent shelter

"But Ipswich Borough Council have provided 12 extra severe weather beds and they've been made use of by the people who can't come here, thankfully."

The council has two emergency beds all year round but increases this provision to 12 when the Met Office predicts three or more consecutive nights of freezing temperatures.

Mr Daltry said the scheme had been successful, but hoped a permanent shelter would eventually be built in the town to help those unable to find more permanent housing.

"Some of our guests have had a lot of problems with housing and they're not always welcome back, so we have to work very carefully with them, make sure they're in the right place to pick up housing," he said.

"But agencies are working together well, there's a good system between the hostels of trying to work out how to handle people - for most that works but there are one or two cases where it's really difficult."

More than 310 volunteers have helped run the shelters, which are at St Mary's at Stoke, Burlington Baptist Church, Ipswich International Church, Holy Trinity Church, The Salvation Army, Hope Church, and a combined shelter from Christ Church URC Baptist Church and St Pancras Church.