More support for homeless households in West Suffolk

02 Nov 2026

Homeless people from West Suffolk, plus veterans, care leavers, and people fleeing domestic abuse, will be supported in a council’s latest temporary accommodation.

West Suffolk Council is finalising the refurbishment and moving people into the new temporary accommodation in Bury St Edmunds.

The exact location of the property is not being made public by the council as it may be accommodating people who are fleeing domestic abuse, and other people who may be vulnerable to those who would look to prey upon and exploit their situation.

Once fully completed, the property, purchased for £1.7 million earlier this year, will deliver 13 new units of temporary accommodation, each designed to meet the needs of one household whether that’s accommodation for a family or a room for a single person. That will bring the council’s total up to 77 units of temporary accommodation and will further help to reduce the council’s reliance on emergency bed and breakfast accommodation which is less appropriate for the needs of families and individuals and cost more to the taxpayer.

Cllr Richard O’Driscoll, Cabinet Member for Housing at West Suffolk Council visited the property, ahead of it coming into use.

“We provide a lifeline to households across West Suffolk who have become homeless, working with them and supporting them in temporary accommodation, until they are ready to move into a home of their own”

“We also recognise it is important to support UK veterans, care leavers and people fleeing domestic abuse from other parts of the country and our temporary accommodation is also used to help them out of homelessness.”

“All of this is about supporting individuals, couples and families at their time of greatest need.”

“That is why we have continued to invest in temporary accommodation to meet local needs and to improve the living conditions in some of our older properties.

“And it is why we continue to prevent homelessness from occurring where we can. Prevention is not always possible, however, and that is why our investment in temporary accommodation, in line with our Housing, Homelessness Reduction and Rough Sleeping Strategy, continues to be so vital.”
 

 

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