Ipswich mayor Sarah Barber has visited the town’s main unit for homeless families to mark World Homeless Day.

Mrs Barber toured the facilities at West Villa in south-west Ipswich and spoke to staff and residents during her visit. She is pictured with IBC housing officer Nicki Baker.

The average length of stay in temporary accommodation is 13 weeks as the borough tries to find people a more permanent home.

Sometimes, demand for temporary accommodation exceeds supply – eight families and nine single households are being housed in private bed and breakfast accommodation but are moved into alternative temporary accommodation within six weeks.

At the end of September there were 61 households in temporary accommodation in sites across the town, including the new West Villa.

Last year Ipswich Council helped more than 600 households stay in their homes, offering advice and assistance and working with housing providers to increase options available to those threatened with homelessness.