Today, I visited Spires homeless link, which was set up in the 1980s by members of the local faith community to provide the basics for people forced into a life of homelessness: washing facilities, food, clothing and emergency healthcare.

Rough sleeping has seen a major increase in the UK since 2010, with 726 people dying on our streets last year. The austerity of the past ten years means charity organisations are increasingly having to plug gaps in the public sector.

With homelessness services facing a £1bn funding gap, charities are a lifeline for anyone living on the streets. Spires are doing amazing work to link people up with mental health services, addiction support and housing advice in our area.