With more snow forecast for Berkshire, most of us can sit at home and wrap up warm.
But that's not always the case for the hundreds of homeless who have nowhere to go and must sleep on the streets.
This time last year Derek Jones was being looked after by the Salvation Army after being homeless.
"For me it was a nasty experience. In the day I was able to find places to stay warm," he told BBC Radio Berkshire's Phil Kennedy.
"But at night time you don't get any sleep.
"I was sleeping rough for three months. For six weeks I was sleeping in a car that I had but there was more frost on the inside of the car than the outside of the car due to my breath.
"But beyond that I had to leave the car and then go basically on the streets. It's horrendous and you don't want to admit to yourself that you're homeless.
"My pride got in my way a lot of the time and obviously you're not thinking straight either but I finally managed to get to the Salvation Army. They are brilliant but they can't help everyone."
Mabel Boyd, who is the manager of two drop-in centres in Reading said it's much worse at this time of the year than any.
Street dangers
She said: "You get very cold but at night obviously you have to be taken in if it's less than four degrees. The Salvation Army in Hamble Court have been taking people in at night so when it gets very cold you have to go indoors because you would simply die.
"Those with mental health problems are in the worse state because they don't like to be near people, so they are the ones who are actually out on the streets because they don't really want to go indoors because it's too painful for them."
Where to get help"In Reading, the street team would tell you officially there are 20 on the streets but if you talk to Shelter, which is the national organisation for the homeless, they will tell you multiply it by ten, which would give you about 200.
"Obviously not everyone is on the footpath but people are sleeping rough, people with children are in bed and breakfasts. You don't have a home to call your own."
Reverend Louise Brown from All Saints in Dedworth in Windsor said it's not just a problem in winter.
"It's not just at Christmas; it's all the year round. People focus on it because it's cold and because it has been traditional with the Christmas story - Mary and Joseph having no room at the Inn.
"It's good to focus on it but it doesn't go away and I think the worst thing is that you can get through it in the day - it's just that we can't get any accommodation for them to sleep at night.
Nowhere to go at night
"There are no hostels in Windsor or Slough or anywhere for the person who is on the street to actually get somewhere warm at night, so whatever people do during the day - it stops in the evening.
"Windsor churches have got some great situations for homeless for feeding them during the day. It's fantastic, but we're stumped for helping them at night."
St Mungo's is a leading charity for homeless people. It manages street outreach teams in two boroughs in London and since January 2008 has also managed the Reading outreach team.
Five St Mungo's staff work on a daily basis with anyone rough sleeping on the streets in Reading.
Helping homeless
The charity has been working with the Salvation Army, amongst others, to help bring rough sleepers in from the cold this winter.
"If anyone has concerns about a rough sleeper on the streets of Reading, St Mungo's advice would be to stop and talk to them, find out their name and where they are planning to sleep that night," a St Mungo's spokesperson said.
"If not, please ring the St Mungo's outreach team number on 0118 89 585 002 and tell us who the rough sleeper is and where they can be found.
Alternatively, you can email St Mungo's by going to St Mungo's website
While it is tempting to help people sleeping rough with money or food St Mungo's said: "We understand the importance of providing food to homeless people but we don't believe in helping rough sleepers to sustain a street lifestyle.
"Encouraging rough sleepers off the streets will enable them to put homelessness behind then and unlock their potential for a better life.
"Equally, the compassion shown by people who choose to give money to anyone begging should be commended and respected.
"At the same time, however, handouts may encourage beggars to continue with their street lifestyles, rather than bringing about real and lasting change."
Council provisions
Reading Council works with St Mungo's to provide shelter for homeless as winter sets in.
"In periods of extreme cold a further level of winter provision kicks in, this is formally triggered when the Met office forecast three consecutive days of zero or sub zero temperatures and shelter is provided to all," a council spokesperson said.
"The route to get shelter is via the Council, St Mungo's workers or the police and the Reading Council website gives details for anyone worried about a rough sleeper to make a referral.
"The outreach team are active in the town and work hard to ensure that all rough sleepers have a route to emergency accommodation at all times.
"During the current winter weather these efforts are helping to ensure all vulnerable rough sleepers can get into warm and dry accommodation."
Reading Single Homeless Project
Reading Council: Help for Homeless
West Berkshire Council: Homelessness
Shelter
Reading Salvation Army
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