Imagine standing outside in the bitter cold, desperately searching for shelter from the icy wind. For many in our community, this is a harsh reality, and the struggle to find a safe place to sleep can be life-threatening.
SWEP (Severe Weather Emergency Protocol) is a temporary response to ensure the safety of people who are sleeping rough in the event of extreme cold, wind and rain.
This protocol is called by local authorities when the weather or ‘feels like temperature’ hits zero degrees or lower, and when weather warnings are announced by the MET office.
When SWEP gets announced our dedicated outreach teams across the South West work tirelessly to bring individuals off the streets and into safe accommodation, such as hostels and hotels.
Our teams work with the council to determine which individuals that need to be contacted and how many hotels need to be booked for this time period.
‘Ourselves and the council book the hotels, based on who we’ve seen on outreach, who the homeless prevention officers have seen that day, etc. During this time, we ensure that we are stocked up with hats, gloves, scarves, for when the individuals are out during the day.’ Jodie, Assertive Outreach Worker in Basingstoke and Deane.
Sleeping rough means that individuals are less able to take preventive measures to protect themselves during these temperature changes which increases the risk of long-term cold-related illness.
Meet Jim and Sophie- two of our Exeter-based outreach team members.
Six mornings a week, armed with flasks of hot drinks and snacks to offer people, our outreach team in Exeter and across the South West complete a lap of the city to check on those sleeping outside and remind them of the help that is on offer.
“Even if it’s just a tiny bit of help each day… you’re making that day better. Hopefully you’re helping and encouraging them to get on the pathway that’s going to change their life.” Sophie, Assertive Outreach Worker in Exeter
However, our teams are already stretched thin, and our services are operating at capacity, making this an incredibly challenging time.
Your support is crucial. By donating you can help us provide not just shelter, but a sense of safety and comfort for those who need it most.
If you see someone who is sleeping rough you can alert them to our teams by using the link below:
Tell us about someone sleeping rough – StreetLink
