A SERVICE offering support to Bury's homeless has been extended over the festive period and into the New Year.

Gateway, part of the Burnley-based Calico Group, has been awarded a new contract to enhance heir existing operation the town meaning their homelessness services was able help more people than ever this Christmas.

Homelessness can impact anyone, so Gateway’s ‘Bury Floating Support’ is designed to offer a variety of free services to help those affected by, or even threatened with, finding themselves on the streets over the festive period and beyond.

The service provides critical advice and assistance on issues which could impact someone’s ability to maintain or find a tenancy, or risk being homeless in the cold of winter.

The areas of support include accessing legal advice on tenancy disputes, applying for available benefits, helping victims of domestic abuse, giving people access to training and education to improve their employability, as well as basic home and finance management advice.

Despite only being operational for three months, 230 people have used Gateway’s Bury Floating Support services of which 96 per cent have experienced positive outcomes avoiding being forced to live on the streets without intervention and assistance.

A Bury Council spokesman said:“Preventing homelessness and supporting individuals and families is a high priority for the council.

"The festive period is a time where many are celebrating, however there are others struggling with their housing and daily living. The authority has committed itself to invest in services like Gateway, to address causes of homelessness and deliver high quality support to the most vulnerable in our community. Gateway provides that helping hand to support these households, so that their housing and quality of life can be improved for the better”.

Jacob Harosh, Gateway’s floating support coordinator, said “Christmas can be a very difficult time of year for those who are homeless or threatened with homelessness, with everyone else around them seen to be celebrating with loved ones in the comfort of their own home. Our team has done a fantastic job in reaching out to some of the most vulnerable individuals in Bury, supporting them to ensure they have somewhere safe and warm to be this winter.”

For details on how Gateway could help email buryfloatingsupport@calico.org.uk or call 0161 447 8821