Too Hot For The Homeless!

Most of us enjoy basking in the warm weather, but spare a thought for homeless people who are suffering serious sunburn and dehydration in the continuing heatwave.

Charities have urged members of the public to do more to help people sleeping rough to keep safe in the sweltering conditions. Temperatures exceeded 30C across the country most of this week, and the hot weather is predicted to continue throughout July.

Concern is growing for the most vulnerable, including homeless people. Charities say they are at increased risk of sunstroke, dehydration and chronic illnesses. Many homeless people have been treated at walk-in centres and special clinics across the country in the past few weeks, the charities added. They’ve encouraged members of the public to hand out sun cream, water and hats to others and contact relevant organisations if they are particularly concerned about people sleeping rough they see or meet this month.

Speaking to Metro.co.uk, Crisis’ chief executive Jon Sparkes said: ‘Rough sleeping is incredibly dangerous all year round, but during heat waves like the one we’re having now, dehydration and heat exhaustion put people with nowhere to turn at even greater risk.

Mr Sparkes added: Members of the public who want to help can ask anyone in these conditions if they need water, or offer them sun cream, spare umbrellas, or help to find shade – people living on the streets often spend much of their nights walking around to stay safe which often means they sleep during daylight, but this could put people at risk of severe sunburn as well.”

“You can also refer rough sleepers to Streetlink, who can connect them to local support and services, or call 999 if they urgently need medical attention. Ultimately though, no one should be facing these dangers when we know that homelessness can be ended, so we’re also asking people to join our campaign to end homelessness for good; email their local MPs asking them pledge their support to end homelessness; and help us ensure that in future, no one has to face these conditions again.”

Crisis’ calls were echoed by Shelter, which campaigns to end homelessness and bad housing. It tweeted: “The expected #heatwave this week can be a risk for people who are #homeless on the streets.” On Twitter, the charity recently suggested ways to help homeless people. These include helping anyone at risk find day centres, which provide food, showers and shade during the day, calling 999 straightaway if anyone has concerns for a homeless person’s health and offering sunglasses, hats and sun lotion.

Outreach workers in Birmingham have given out bottles of water to the city’s homeless this week.