People sleeping rough on the streets, behind shops, in alleyways and in makeshift camps have become a commonplace sight around Wrexham.
Earlier this year, we reported what life was like for them , after the town was named the worst place in Wales for homeless deaths and the place in North Wales with the largest number of rough sleepers.
It followed similar reports on homeless people in Wrexham, including Neil Maxted, who is originally from Sunderland and told how he was trying to stay alive through the cold winter nights as he battled drug and alcohol addiction and feared theft and violence against him.
These are sad scenes which are not unique to Wrexham, but are repeated in other towns and cities across the UK, where the reasons people find themselves on the streets are complex and varied.
But there are signs of hope in Wrexham as local agencies and volunteers work together to help the homeless, either just to get through the day or to get back on their feet and into society.
Sleeping spaces are being provided around the town, with soup kitchens offering food and volunteers pitching in to provide support.
This month, we reported how 22-year-old Jamie Clixby was left starving and surviving on public toilet tap water, but turned his fortunes around and is now studying a photography degree at Glyndwr University.
David Griffiths, Wrexham council's lead member for housing, has been at the centre of the local authority's efforts to address the issue and believes it is working.
These include modular housing off Holt Road to provide short term spaces for rough sleepers looking to get into accommodation, and working alongside volunteers with Housing Justice Cymru to provide sleeping spaces at churches in Wrexham.
“We are confident that the work that has been done by all partners over the past 12 months has had a positive impact on the numbers we are finding that are sleeping rough," said Cllr Griffiths.
"Housing Justice Cymru are working with us again this year following the success of last year's night shelters, and we have a weekend food provision at the Soup Dragon, in addition to the other services provided last year."
Cllr Griffiths said they were working with the other five local authorities in North Wales to tackle the problem across the region.
He said they were looking at "many of the root causes and broader trends underlying homelessness and rough sleeping".
"We are conscious that this is a nationwide issue across Wales and the UK more broadly, and cannot work on this issue in isolation.
"We have worked and will continue to work with any and all partners to help tackle this issue."
