Sidmouth-based charity helps more than 40 homeless people in the Sid Valley

More than 40 people who found themselves without a home and on the streets have been given help thanks to a Sidmouth-based charity.

Homelessness Action Group - Gateway, which was set up three years ago, has released its first-ever annual report.

Since its inception, is has helped dozens of Sid Valley residents who were left with no where else to turn.

Gerry Shattock, Gateway’s chairman, said: “The new Homelessness Reduction Act, which came into force this month, shows that the national government is starting to take the homeless problem seriously. Merely putting more responsibility on local councils will not solve this pressing problem – we need to increase the supply of social housing.”

Gateway not only aims to help people who are already ‘street homeless’, but also gives support to local people who are in severe danger of becoming homeless.

Gateway strongly supports the approach that ‘prevention is better than cure’, so is already expanding its service to work with other organisations, like the Citizens Advice Bureau and the legal profession, in an attempt to resolve the problems faced by families.

Visit sidvalley.org.uk/gateway