Emergency measures to bring rough sleepers inside have been extended as overnight temperatures remain below freezing in Exeter.
Exeter City Council said on Monday 3 March that it would be extending its Severe Weather Emergency Protocol (SWEP) until Wednesday 5 March due to the cold conditions remaining.
Temperatures are expected to go from Wednesday onwards, so the Council will review the Protocol on Wednesday.
The Protocol makes extra emergency accommodation available to rough sleepers.
Cllr Marina Asvachin, Lead Councillor for Housing, Homelessness Prevention and Customer Services, said during the introduction of the protocol last week: “It’s easy enough to be fooled by the bright sunshine that we’re all enjoying but this brings with it a fall in overnight temperatures.
“Every night that someone sleeps rough on the streets, they are seriously at risk. That risk increases when temperatures fall below freezing.”
Once again, the City Council is providing additional emergency bed spaces during the cold spell to help reduce the chance of harm.
The Council is reminding members of the public that they can report someone they believe to be rough sleeping to Streetlink at https://www.streetlink.org.uk/
Streetlink is also useful for those that are sleeping rough, who might want to find out about local support services and get some help. They might be sleeping outside or in places that aren’t designed for people to live in, including cars or vans, doorways and abandoned buildings.
The SWEP means that individuals confirmed by the outreach service – working with other local homelessness partner agencies – as sleeping rough in the city, will be contacted and offered the opportunity to come indoors during this spell of cold weather, where spaces are available.
The Council works hard with partners in the city to make extra accommodation available during particularly cold or extreme weather.
Source link
exeter.one newsbite last confirmed 2 weeks ago by Exeter One
