HOMELESS people living in Worcester were encouraged to head to shelter as temperatures plummeted below freezing last night.

Workers from Caring for Communities and People (CCP), Worcester City Council's county homelessness contractor, took to the streets yesterday (Wednesday, November 29), to seek out rough sleepers and urge them to go to the Maggs Day Centre in Deansway.

Lorna Fowles and Kerry Rastall, homeless provision support workers, stopped off at alleyways and hidden spots near High Street, Friar Street outside Worcester Foregate Street and Cathedral Square to let them know the night shelter was open.

They were joined by Worcester News reporter Liz Sharpe, as they found and spoke to half a dozen homeless people around the city, with most of them already known to CCP.

The contractor has been alerted to a severe weather emergency protocol (SWEP) activated by the Government, which means extended winter provision such as night shelters for rough sleepers in the city.

In Worcester, this means that yesterday and today (Thursday) the Maggs Day Centre will be open from 9.30pm for people to stay overnight, with no admission possible after 11pm.

There are facilities for up to 18 rough sleepers at the Deansway centre with news of it opening distributed to partner organisations and put out on social media, but Ms Rastall and Ms Fowles said news would also travel by word of mouth, as Worcester's homeless community 'look out for each other'.

They hope many would take up the opportunity to stay at the centre, but feared some would refuse.

Ms Fowles said: "You have to reach them before they get entrenched. People don't see the work we put in - it is behind closed doors."

Ms Rastall said: "They have to want the help. We try not to rush into things."

"Many people try to give money to (rough sleepers) but it can be more harmful than good. More than likely it will be used for something other than that it was supposed to, for alcohol or drugs for example. If you give money then they could die on the streets.

"There are people of all ages - under 16s can receive help from social services. People aged 18 to 35 who are on benefits can be found accommodation but they will need to top up their rent so we do help people with budgeting too."

Ms Rastall said over the last 18 months the CCP had managed to rehouse hundreds of homeless people and that, often, early in the morning a support worker tries to visit known rough sleepers.

She added: "We want people to report sighting of homeless people to Streetlink - that is what the public can do to help. We could spend all day searching for them but it would not be a good use of our time."

If demand for the night shelter is higher than the 18 places available, the city council will arrange temporary bed and breakfast accommodation elsewhere.

CCP is based at 19 to 21 Park Street, off Wyld's Lane, where there are eight empty flats, which are set to be used as temporary accommodation for homeless people.

CCP also arrange transport for rough sleepers around the county.

To report a homeless person, or to report yourself to be homeless to Streetlink go to streetlink.org.uk.