AS winter temperatures continue to plummet, spare a thought for those forced to sleep on the streets and endure the freezing conditions.

Support and shelter are accessible in Warrington but provision is limited and many in the town will often have nowhere to turn.

YMCA Warrington and James Lee House are among the sites to provide emergency accommodation to the homeless and vulnerable.

But – once they are at full capacity – the streets are, far too often, the only place available.

Jason Palmer, who is supported by the YMCA, has been living rough, on and off, for five years since moving to the town from Liverpool.

The 36-year-old was released to a bail hostel but feels he was 'let down' when attempting to 'reintegrate into society'.

He said: "Before I was released I was asked if I need help with anything.

"The only thing I asked for was help with rehousing.

"But at the time the support worker turned up and told me it was time to go.

"I was expected to pack up my things and leave – I did not get support with housing.

"When I came here to Warrington I got help getting into James Lee House but then was kicked out.

"I went into the Gateway for help and they asked me if I was from Warrington and I told them I wasn't.

"At the time I had only been in Warrington for two months.

"But almost five years later I am still being told that I can't bid on houses and have no right to housing in the town because of having no local connection."

Despite the hardship, Jason is particularly thankful for the support provided by YMCA centre manager Susan Blyth.

He said: "Without the YMCA I would probably be dead – there are not many places in the town set up to support people in this situation.

"The YMCA is literally the only place that I have been able to go recently.

"Susan is a godsend, she put her position on the line to give me a bed and support, despite being told she couldn't.

"Without her, I would be long gone."

Jason also admits the cold snap makes homelessness ever more difficult.

He added: "You are waking up frozen and can't move.

"Sundays are the worst as the YMCA is not open until 3pm and there is nowhere else we can go to get shelter and food.

"If we had money to spend then it would not be an issue – but if we had money then homelessness would not be an issue in the first place.

"What irritates me the most is that I need to find work but no employer in their right mind will employ someone without a roof over their head.

"It is a vicious circle – they can't employ me, I can't claim benefits and they won't give me housing.

"For five years I have been going round and round in circles."

Samuel Bluck is another who is supported by the Winmarleigh Street charity.

The 22-year-old, from Longford, has been regularly sleeping on the streets for the last two years.

He said: "I get a lot of help with food, shelter and clothing at the YMCA.

"I was last sleeping rough a week ago – in the town centre and in Longford too.

"I sofa surf when I can and am in James Lee House now.

"We don't seem to get much support from the council – it is quite disappointing.

"It is very cold now, which makes it even harder for us, and I also have titanium in my leg – I got hit by a motorbike when I was 18.

"Susan was very welcoming when I first came to the YMCA and without her I really don't know where we would all be."

But help is at hand with an action fortnight set to start next week.

A number of charity events in the past year have supported the YMCA and efforts to eradicate homelessness and improve opportunities for vulnerable young residents are continuing.

In 2015-16, 133 young people, aged 16 to 24, received homelessness and housing support from Warrington Borough Council, according to Centrepoint’s youth homelessness data bank.

Yorkshire Building Society (YBS), based on Bridge Street in the town centre, is holding its first action fortnight from Monday, February 20, in support of its new three-year partnership with End Youth Homelessness (EYH).

EYH is aiming to bring together charities as a national movement to end homelessness among 16 to 25 year-olds in the UK.

YBS hopes to raise £750,000 over the course of the partnership to support more than 700 homeless young people into their own rented homes.

Staff at the Warrington branch will be raising funds for EYH through the ‘give our bear a home’ competition.

Manager Nik Lycett said: “We are proud to launch our new partnership with EYH and hope our customers and members of the public in Warrington really get behind us.

“Our action days will raise funds for rental deposit guarantees, home essentials grants and practical help for homeless young people seeking to live independently.

“This partnership is at the heart of what we do at YBS.

“As an organisation we pride ourselves on helping people become financially secure and achieve everything they can.”

Rosie Mellor, partnership manager for EYH, added: “Through our partnership with YBS we will not only be supporting 700 homeless young people into their rented homes, we also aim to break down the barriers homeless young people face.”