'If it gets any colder, I want to go to prison for Christmas'

"Horrible, terrible". Alex Beardmore is describing what life is like sleeping rough on the streets of Doncaster.

The 31-year-old lost his job as a ventilation hygiene specialist and has been homeless for five months.

"I'm very apprehensive about the winter. I've actually said to a few people, if it gets any colder I'll be putting myself into prison for Christmas."

Alex is supporting a campaign for a day centre for rough sleepers in the city.

When the weather gets particularly bad, the Severe Weather Emergency Protocol comes into force, meaning there are emergency beds available for the night provided by City of Doncaster Council.

But that still leaves people like Alex on the streets during the daytime, even when temperatures fall below freezing.

The Doncaster Foodbank says immediate action is needed to provide essential services, including food, somewhere to wash clothes and, crucially, a place that is safe.

"One lad's been hit with a chain and a padlock," Alex continues. "He had his whole face filled in.

"Another lad had hot water thrown on him. So it's pretty bad out on the streets at the moment."

At the forefront of the campaign is Richie Purchon, 43, who spent years sleeping rough in various parts of Yorkshire.

Richie is keen to emphasise that many people could end up on the streets - he believes we all know someone who is one missed wage packet away from being homeless.

"All it takes is a couple of bad things to happen, your washing machine breaks, you get a puncture on your car tyre, then you can't pay your rent."

Richie was living with his mother before he was sent to prison to serve a sentence.

While he was inside, she went into a care home, leaving Richie with nowhere to go when he was released.

He tells us he spent time with a small group of people living under a railway bridge.

"There were seven of us under this bridge. There's four of us alive now."

He believes the other three died because of health problems brought on by "the homeless situation".

"You don't want to carry on," he says. "It's easier to not be here sometimes than put up with the badness, the harshness."

Richie now has his own home but is passionate about improving life for those who are experiencing what he has been through.

"You're in a doorway and you don't feel safe," he adds.

"You're not sleeping. Your eyes might be shut but you've got no rest. So you've been sat there with your eyes closed for six or eight hours and really you're drained, you're wiped."

The campaign for a day centre is being co-ordinated by the Doncaster Foodbank.

The charity's community campaigns organiser, Mary Macmillan, says: "We're not asking for everything to work incredibly well and to be perfect straight away.

"Even if we can get a building open a couple of afternoons a week just to start off, we can learn what works, what doesn't work and what the cohort (of users) actually want."

The city is thought to have around 50 regular rough sleepers.

Dan Swaine, executive director of place at City of Doncaster Council, said: "We are working with our partner organisations to find a suitable location where people can feel safe and be connected with further support and essential facilities to help them get off the streets and into more supported care.

"We hope to be able to open a suitable provision soon."

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