Cold snap: Call to house homeless in vacant properties

LONG-TERM vacant properties should be made available for homeless people seeking shelter during cold snaps and bad weather, the director of a homeless charity has urged.

Alice Leahy, a homelessness campaigner and Trust founder, said empty premises could be put to good use by being used as a place for people to put their head down in a safe and warm environment.

Ms Leahy went on to say the lack of emergency beds, particularly during cold snaps, was a huge worry for homeless charities and suggested the “highly intrusive” questions asked of people presenting at homeless shelters worked as a deterrent.