Huggard helps people move from streets to live more stable lives

He is keen to stress that whatever decisions are made by politicians or by people who run organisation’s like his, there is no quick fix.

“The reality is homelessness is not as straightforward as putting someone in a house,” he says.

“Putting a roof over someone’s head doesn’t solve the problems that led to them being vulnerable in the first place.”

As you walk through the door you find the offices of the centre’s substance misuse service and advocacy teams.

The two teams work to help those who walk into the Huggard to navigate the complexities of bureaucracy and their own dependencies.

But Richard is keen to stress that not all homeless people are addicts.

He says: “Sometimes it is the reason why people are on the streets – sometimes it is a problem they develop as a coping mechanism.

“We get quite a lot of people who are misusing substances and part of what we do is teach them to use more safely.

“We’re the largest needle exchange in the city – but we’re also trying to reduce dangerous behaviour, like injecting heroin in the neck.”

Dealing with people who have often had run-ins with authority before, the advocacy team help people in need – who they call clients – find their feet again.

“One of the biggest problems a lot of