Taunton Deane Borough Council and Taunton Association for the Homeless give views on rough sleeping in the summer

But as the summer months bring sunshine and warmer weather, sleeping on the streets becomes more bearable than in the winter.

The lack of frost and cold winds makes it easier to survive on the streets, bring an expected increase in rough sleepers.

Charities such as the Taunton Association for the Homeless (TAH) find it harder to draw people in off the streets, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t people in need.

But an increase in beggars on the street does not mean they are homeless, and the charity warns against giving people money in the fear they could be feeding a habit, instead of themselves.

Justin Roxburough, CEO of TAH, said: “We are seeing an increase in rough sleepers this summer.

“The fair weather makes it easier to survive on the streets. These people are known to TAH and our accommodation and services are always available.

“We are finding it harder to bring people in off the streets at the moment for many reasons, the weather being one.

“There is also an increase in begging in our town centres, and we should not automatically assume these people are homeless - they are usually paying for a habit, so please encourage people to donate to organisations like TAH rather than give money to people begging. Always refer people to TAH or Open Door and we will be able to help.”

Another issue potentially increasing the amount of homeless people, especially in West Somerset and Bridgwater, is the Hinkley C construction site.

TAH says that the influx of workers coming to the area in need of housing - with the money to pay inflated rents - could cause problems for people on low incomes.

But Taunton Deane Borough Council (TDBC) and West Somerset Council (WSC) says EDF has agreed to a number of new initiatives to increase homes and bed space in both areas.

WSC shared an initial £4m of funding in 2014 with neighbouring Sedgemoor and a further £3.5m was made available last year for housing initiatives. Of this, £500,000 is ring-fenced to WSC and £660,000 to Taunton Deane Borough Council. Sedgemoor was allocated £1m, with £643,000 allocated to North Somerset.

Areas of priority in West Somerset include the provision of more short-term one- and two-bedroom homes in the private rented market, targetting areas such as Stogursey, Minehead, Watchet and Williton.

For Taunton, the priority is more one-bedroom accommodation in the low-cost private sector in the short term and new one to four-bedroom accommodation in the private rented sector and owner occupied sector in the longer term and also to continue to bring long term empty homes back into use.

A spokesman for the West Somerset and Taunton Deane councils said: “Overall, with these initiatives and others to help bring homes into the market, our plans across the two council areas will see 980 new bed spaces delivered using the funds received from EDF Energy.”

Mr Roxburough added: “The true impact of the Hinkley Point contract has yet to hit locally.

“There is a huge influx of workers due from other parts of the county just to fill the numbers needed for this scale of project.

"Many of these people will need one-room accommodation and will be happy to pay inflated levels of rent. This makes housing for those on low incomes and higher levels of vulnerability even more difficult. Homelessness will increase without a doubt.

“However, there are many projects being funded by EDF to try to mitigate some of these pressures, one of which is our very own lettings agency, Somerset West Lettings.

"Opened with seed funding from EDF just over a year ago SWLA has housed more than 100 people on low incomes and has grown rapidly.

"It is Bridgwater based but plans to expand later this year. Some landlords want to help local people as well as house EDF workers and contract SWLA to help.

"SWLA also provides a bond scheme to help those who don’t have resort to a cash deposit, as well as general housing advice and guidance.”

To support rough sleepers, TAH hosts its annual Big Sleep Out event which sees people sleep on the streets for the night to raise money.

Around 90 people came together to brave the cold dark night and raise thousands of pounds by sleeping rough.

The group gathered at Taunton Town FC’s Viridor Stadium to sleep out under the stars on Friday, June 9.

Rosie Hather, fundraising and communications officer for TAH, said: “90 people signed up this year, which is about 20 more than last year. A lot of people have raised sponsorship in cash so we still need to count it all up.

“The idea is for participants to sleep outside for the night raising valuable funds for homeless people.

“We have been doing this three years. It is important for us to get the community together and it kind of opens people’s eyes to how difficult it would be.

“We are raising awareness so we can continue to do the work we do.

“Our outreach team are always looking at why are these people sleeping out every day.”

The total raised has reached £4,566, with that set to rise as more donations are counted and received.

Tracey Turnbull and Sue Hoggett were at the sleep out from the TAH outreach team.

Miss Hoggett said: “We are out in the field, listening to people, seeing why are they rough sleeping, bringing them back into the fold.

“A huge part of it is building up relationships with these people. We are the bridge between rough sleepers and the council.”

Miss Turnbull said: “In a lot of cases, it is welfare working, making sure people are OK. We have got an open-door Monday to Friday so they can get showers and change their clothes, and get food and nourishment.

Sue added: “We are making sure people are aware of what is available for them, the resources, and not being judgemental. We are trying to break down stereotypes around homeless people.”

Miss Hather added: “Even if we match that we will be so pleased. We can be seen here and there at community things but this is our main fundraising event of the year.

“A big thank you to Taunton Football Club, 3D Security, Premier Chef, The Rapid Relief Team, Tesco, Costa and the four live music performers - Matt Bond, Stevie Brown, Rosie Hunter, Lucy Robinson.

“They all provided us with something or service completely free of charge to make the night better and more enjoyable.”

Cllr Hazel Prior-Sankey, mayor of Taunton, said: “This is a really good initiative we have here.

“It will make the point to people that it is not easy and raise support for Taunton Association for the Homeless.

“It is lovely to see the people gathered together and the volunteers cooking from TAH and preparing food. It is all really good.”