WITH temperatures set to plummet this week, scores of homeless people struggling to survive on the streets of Hereford will be relying on the “warmth and humanity” of a concerned group of Good Samaritans.

Figures for the number of people sleeping rough in the city are not clear, though the Hereford Homeless Winter Support group, formed by those who find themselves unable to ignore this dire plight for many believe there could be at least 50 facing the arctic weather without food and shelter.

An appeal for help posted on the group’s Facebook page last week brought in enough basic essentials for volunteers to make up 30 bags containing a range of goods including socks, gloves, blankets, hot water bottles, plasters and anti-bacterial gel. One concerned man donated £250 towards the work of the group, enabling volunteers to buy rucksacks for distribution among Hereford’s homeless.

Supporters are appealing for firewood to help the homeless keep warm out of doors. Jo Smith, one of the instigators of the support group, said volunteers were shocked to note that those sleeping rough were resorting to burning plastic rubbish in efforts to keep warm.“Very basically, we don’t want people to freeze to death,” said Jo, who describes herself as an “ordinary mother” who found herself unable to “walk on by”.

“These people are ill, cold and hungry,” she said. “But they are burning plastic to keep warm so that the fumes are probably toxic, so we are collecting firewood so that at least they can burn proper fuel.”

The homeless group is calling for a a day centre to be opened in Hereford.

“Maybe a church, a charity or an organisation could open a day centre,” she said. “We all work, we have children, we know we can’t do it ourselves, but there is such a need.”

Said Jo: “We can’t find out the figures for homeless people in Hereford, they won’t tell us, but a breakfast club has 43 people coming in.”

The group recognises that a shelter is available for the homeless and that the breakfast club operates on three mornings each week. But Jo understood there was “nowhere” for homeless people to go between 7am and 9pm. She also feared the reactions of some people.

“People can be dismissive, there are instances of homeless people being urinated on, or teased with offers of fish and chips,” she said “It’s horrible, they’re not seeing them as people.

“These people need love and care, often they have mental health issues or addictions, but they need a hug just like anyone else.”

Jo said that volunteers had been discovering more about the lives of those living on the streets.

“We have got to know their names, find out about their lives, their music tastes,” she said.

Jo praised the overwhelming response of their supporters. “One elderly chap with a walking stick needed a pair of wellies and after our appeal, within 33 minutes a pair of wellies size 12 were dropped off. It’s just basic stuff but it means so much.”