The boss of an Ipswich housing charity has warned about a lack of emergency accommodation for homeless people.
It comes following the decision by Ipswich Borough Council to bypass normal contract procedures to spend £88,810 on emergency hotel accommodation for homeless people.
The local authority decided to waive the usual market testing requirements due to the increase in homelessness in the town and the lack of alternative suitable accommodation.
The Labour-led authority have decided to renew a contract with Cameron Ventures at the Best Western Hotel in Copdock will be extended until March 31, 2025 at a cost of £88,810.
Under Section 188 of the Housing Act 1996, the council has a statutory duty to provide accommodation for certain groups of homeless people.
The council argued that if it had gone through the "competitive tendering process" it may not be able to fulfil its statutory duty.
Jools Ramsey-Palmer, chief executive officer at Ipswich Housing Action Group (ihAg), said that the lack of emergency beds for homeless people was a major issue and she anticipated an increase in homelessness over the winter.
She said: "The importance of emergency bedspaces for people who are homeless cannot be overstated – there are significant risks to a person’s mental and physical wellbeing and safety, if they are sleeping rough on the streets, sleeping in cars, and even sofa-surfing.
"And these risks are heightened as winter approaches, particularly as cases of flu and covid are beginning to rise.
"Sadly, Ipswich no longer has a winter night shelter, putting more pressure on the remaining bedspaces, and leaving some people rough sleeping for longer.
"With the ongoing cost of living crisis and costs of housing crisis, ihAg is anticipating an increase in the number of people facing homelessness, and we continue to be concerned about the availability of sufficient emergency beds, and longer-term accommodation solutions, given the upcoming changes to supported accommodation in Suffolk."
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