THE season of goodwill is nearly over but those at Bury Housing Concern are wondering whether it existed at all.

Volunteers and officers for the registered charity are now bracing themselves for an influx of homeless people.

Because of a severe shortage of accommodation, the organisation's outreach resettlement co-ordinator, Lee Rogers, believes they will be reduced to giving blankets to people and sending them on their way.

Mr Rogers said: "We have more people approaching us in early January than at any other time of year.

"This is because there are more arguments and stress over the festive period."

He said the opening of Bury's new homeless hostel within the next two years would provide a huge boost for the borough's rough sleepers and those in poor temporary accommodation.

The controversial project caused a huge outcry and Manchester Methodist Housing was forced to withdraw its application to develop the hostel in Baron Street, Bury, after massive public opposition. The association was finally given the go-ahead to build the hostel and adjacent flats in the Castlecroft area near to the town centre despite the objections of local businesses and residents who launched a huge campaign to have the plans thrown out. However, Mr Rogers said that he managed to win support for the hostel by asking shoppers and local homeless people in Bury Town Centre to sign a letter asking for the plans to be approved.

The complex, a three-storey building of nine one-bed flats and 18 emergency beds, would be built on the site of the social services-run Castlecroft day nursery. The hostel would not be used as a drop in centre and would not house the mentally ill.

It would be manned 24-hours a day and residents would get support and training to help them settle back in to the community.

Mr Rogers said: "The objectors believed the hostel would house paedophiles which is a popular misconception.

"Paedophiles are more likely to be living next door to you and be in a good job. It is highly unlikely for a convicted paedophile to be homeless because they have to be at a known address for police to keep an eye on them."

Mr Rogers admitted that homeless people have problems but that the hostel would be well equipped to deal with them and help the homeless to become members of the community again.

"Homeless people are just like you and me. Anyone can be made homeless." he added. "We have a 70 year-old who was made homeless because of circumstances and another who ended up sleeping in his car after being chucked out of home by his partner."

Stephen, who did not want to give his surname, was made homeless after serving a six-month sentence for drink-driving.

He told the Bury Times: "When I got out my family simply didn't want to know me. If it wasn't for the people at Bury Housing Concern then I don't know where I would be.

"I have started rebuilding my life and this hostel is so important to help people like myself get re-established again.

"I can understand why people are worried about the hostel, but it was simply as a result of circumstance that I was made homeless."