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Man who slept rough praises 'plush' new housing

Joanna Taylor
BBC News, Peterborough
JOANNA TAYLOR/BBC Paul Smith is standing smiling at the camera. He is wearing a t-shirt with a picture of palm trees on it and a navy hooded jacket. There are keys and earphones around his neck. Behind him is part of a black door with windows and a brick wall with a sign on that reads 266D Eastfield Road. JOANNA TAYLOR/BBC
Paul Smith, 52, said his new home was as 'plush as a hotel'

New temporary homes for people sleeping rough in a city were "as plush as a hotel", one of its first residents said.

Paul Smith, 52, said he was "surprised" by the quality of the facilities in Peterborough after staying at several other hostels and guest houses.

The four shared houses on Eastfield Road, which can up to 17 men with complex needs, have on site workers and security around the clock.

"I look forward to the future," Mr Smith said, "before, I just thought I'd blown it and I wasn't going anywhere."

The accommodation is provided by Off the Streets Accommodation, a housing scheme set up by Peterborough City Council and My Housing Options Community Interest Company.

Mr Smith added that he questioned whether he deserved his penthouse room and en suite bathroom when he first saw them.

"There's people who haven't been in my situation who might think, 'He's got all that – why haven't I got those sorts of things":[]}