Men and women will be on the streets this Christmas

As you tuck into a turkey dinner on Christmas Day, spare a thought for those who are huddled in doorways in Northern Ireland, seeking shelter from the cold.

Some people have selflessly given up spending the day with their loved ones, to try to bring a little festive cheer to those who sleep rough.

Michael Devlin and Jenny McGivern, who both are in their 20s, are outreach workers based in north Belfast.

They help the homeless with a wide range of issues including health care and addictions.

They will be out on Saturday, and among their tasks will be bringing sleeping bags and hot meals to the homeless. But why work on Christmas Day?

"Because it's fun," said Michael, "and it's worth it."

Jenny said: "At the end of the day these are human beings just like the rest of us, and they deserve a bit of happiness as well.

"I have been working with people with complex needs from my teens. It's something that I really enjoy doing.

There are lots of rough sleepers who the outreach team will be out looking for on Christmas Days to make sure they are catered for, Susan Gilbride Northern Ireland Housing Executive

"I feel that I have the skills, that I can speak to people and try to build up a relationship. It's something that I've always been interested in."

The Northern Ireland Housing Executive has recently appointed four new outreach workers in Belfast. It means there is now a round-the-clock service for rough sleepers in the city.

Susan Gilbride, the executive's Rough Sleepers Co-ordinator, said the team contact rough sleepers and try to get them to access to services such as health care, day centre provision as well as mental health and addiction services.

"We have an excellent outreach service at night, but during the day we try to get them to register with a GP, sort out their social security benefits, get them to apply for housing," she said.

"We are also liaising with the PSNI, because rough sleepers can cause problems and can have problems caused for them.

Christmas dinner will be provided for the homeless in Belfast

"The PSNI are going to be linking up with the outreach teams."

Over the festive period it will not be just men who will need a little festive cheer.

Temporary shelter for women over Christmas is being provided at Divis Tower in the west of the city.

"We would have about four or five women who sleep rough," said Ms Gilbride.

"The Divis Tower opened last night on a temporary basis. We had two in there last night.

"These would be women who couldn't go into hostels...because of various problems. The Welcome Centre have opened this centre in conjunction with the Housing Executive to cater for them over Christmas."

The executive's homeless hostel on Brunswick Square is one of a number which will be opening on 25 December.

A Christmas dinner is also being provided at the Welcome Centre in the city.

"There are lots of rough sleepers who the outreach team will be out looking for on Christmas Day, to make sure they are catered for," she said.