Cold snap prompts councils and charities to shelter rough sleepers

Published by Julien Tremblin for 24dash.com in Housing and also in Local Government

Councils and charities across the country are opening facilities to accommodate homeless people in reaction to the cold snap hitting the UK.

With night temperatures expected to remain below zero until Sunday, Birmingham City Council has launched its Cold Weather Provision.

It has thrown open the doors of the Salvation Army’s William Booth Centre to provide food and shelter for those sleeping rough.

Those in need can go to the Centre – which opens from 10pm until 9am – where they will be given a place indoors to rest for the night as well as refreshments and a hot breakfast.

Duty staff provide additional cover and are available to carry out risk and needs assessments of rough sleepers, look at temporary and permanent accommodation options, and advise those sleeping rough to relevant agencies who can help – where appropriate.

The city council monitors weather reports and when it’s predicted that the temperature will fall to zero or below the Centre is opened. 

Cllr John Lines Cabinet Member for Housing said: “We’ve beefed-up our resources to accommodate those sleeping on the streets at a time when temperatures are predicted to dip to at least minus five. 

“This facility is a lifeline, it gives people a roof over their heads and a hot meal in their stomach.  Both are essential elements for survival and will no doubt be a welcome respite for those who need this service.

“Preparations have been put in place which includes advising outreach teams and referral agencies so those who need these services have access to them.”

In the meantime, charity Thames Reach in London has increased the number of outreach shifts looking for rough sleepers and is teaming up with local authorities to house homeless people across the capital.

In London, when temperatures drop below zero on three consecutive nights, the Severe Weather Emergency Protocol (SWEP) is implemented, which provides emergency accommodation so that no one dies on the streets due to the cold weather.

Thames Reach’s Chief Executive Jeremy Swain said: “It can be a life or death matter for those sleeping out on the streets when the temperatures plummet below zero and we have extra shifts of outreach teams out trying to ensure that everybody gets the offer of a bed space.

“I’d like to encourage the public to phone in any sightings of people they see sleeping rough across London so we can get out to them and take them into somewhere safe and warm.”

Homelessness charity Crisis has recently warned the Government of an impending "catastrophic wave of homelessness" following the benefit cuts that came in from January.