Winter Help For Rough Sleepers

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As the nights get longer and the temperatures continue to drop, charities are reminding the public to keep a vigilant eye out for vulnerable homeless people this winter.

According to the housing charity Crisis, as many as 9,000 people are sleeping rough on Britain’s streets. Another homelessness charity, St Mungo’s, says that rough sleeping “is an emergency whatever the weather… in winter and freezing weather, people are in even greater danger”.

During extremely cold weather, when temperatures fall to zero degrees or lower for three days, special measures are imposed known as the Severe Weather Emergency Protocol (SWEP). If this is triggered, councils across Britain offer “extra accommodation to rough sleepers, whose lives are at risk on the streets from exposure and hypothermia”.

However, the Huffington Post reports that the system is not a fool-proof, as many homeless people are unable to access the shelters, and may need help from the public. “Rough sleeping is harmful and dangerous, but when temperatures drop, lives are at risk,” says Petra Salva, director of outreach services at St Mungo’s. “It’s vital that we get help to people quickly so we can save lives, but also, in the longer term, find people permanent accommodation and the space to recover,” she adds.

Here’s how you can help:

  • If you see someone in need of urgent medical attention, dial 999 immediately.
  • Let rough sleepers know that emergency shelters are open as they may be unaware that the extra services are running.
  • Send an alert to Streetlink, an app run by a charity of the same name that connects rough sleepers in England and Wales to local agencies who can help find them a warm bed for the night.
  • Give cash directly to homeless people, or offer to buy them a blanket, a cup of tea, or a hot meal.
  • You can also offer to donate money to charities working to end homelessness or volunteer and campaign with them directly. “Your power to help homeless people extends far beyond individual actions and encounters,” says the charity Shelter.
  • A friendly chat is always welcome.