'I lived in a derelict car wash but now I'm safe'

A woman said her life was changed when she encountered a homeless charity after spending a winter sleeping in a derelict car wash.

Jade Burtonshaw, who now lives in a hostel, said earlier this year she was approached by Bury Drop In, which supports people experiencing homelessness in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk.

The charity looks after about 150 people who are either rough sleeping, sofa surfacing or living in their cars in the town. It said the problem was getting "worse" and "more complex".

West Suffolk Council recently agreed its Housing, Homelessness and Reduction in Rough Sleeping Strategy and boosted it with extra funds to tackle the root causes of homelessness.

Ms Burtonshaw's life was turned upside down after her partner took his own life in May last year. They had a home in Ipswich and, after his death, she was made homeless.

She said her "previous convictions" and former way of living as a sex worker made it hard for her to find housing, so she moved to Bury St Edmunds where she had family connections.

She slept rough from June 2023 to February this year and said last winter was hard. "I was very cold, very wet, sleeping in a derelict car wash. I was a vulnerable woman still suffering bereavement and I was alone. I was so alone. Upset. Cold, wet, nowhere to live, it was very depressing."

Ms Burtonshaw was seen sleeping rough by workers from the Bury Drop In and they encouraged her to attend one of their bi-weekly sessions, where they provide a hot meal and support.

"I got a sleeping bag and being a woman I got wet wipes, clean underwear and socks. I didn't have any clothes, so a fresh pair of underwear and wet wipes to clean myself and make me feel a little bit fresher and feminine was great."

She said the drop in team and the various agencies, including the NHS, Department for Work and Pensions and housing officers helped her to secure a place in a hostel

She said: "I spent last Christmas in a shed so this Christmas I won't be in a shed wahoo!"

The number of people finding themselves homeless is going up in Bury St Edmunds, according to the Bury Drop In.

Sabine Dornbusch, the charity's general manager, said: "We are not a soup kitchen here, we do give them a hot meal but we also signpost people who come here to other services to get support.

"No-one wants to be in this situation, it's dangerous, people are attacked. The problem is that their needs are getting more complex, with the breakdown of support from probation, with support in addiction and with mental health.

"We are volunteer lead and we try to share a meal and have a conversation, we asked them how they are, we know their names and they progress here in their own time."

The Bury Drop In needs about £90,000 per year to keep providing the hot meals, clothing, hygiene products and tents for those sleeping rough.

The organisation receives its funding from grants and organisations and also donations from the public or businesses.

Ms Dornbursch said the charity was very "grateful" for the community support in the town, but raising the funds they need was "hard and getting harder every year".

West Suffolk Council is responsible for housing and homelessness prevention in Bury St Edmunds. It agreed a new Housing, Homelessness and Reduction in Rough Sleeping Strategy on Tuesday at a full council meeting.

This included funding of £612,000 to start working on the some of the strategy's actions.

Richard O'Driscoll, a Labour councillor on the authority and cabinet member for housing, said: "Some of the money will be spent on direct services like preventing people becoming homeless, but a large part of the money is about longer term solutions and encouraging the right homes, in the right types of places. "

He added that the council was concerned about young people becoming homeless and have earmarked £62,00 towards a pilot scheme to educate them to live independently and prevent homelessness.

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