How to help people surviving on the streets during freezing weather
People sleeping rough are at greater risk than ever as London councils deactivate emergency housing protocols amid an Arctic blast and the looming threat of heavy snow from Storm Goretti.
Many people today woke up to icy pavements and closed schools as temperatures plummeted once again due to the relentless Arctic blast.
Forecasters have warned that conditions will only worsen, as yellow and amber warnings for snow and ice for the rest of this week have been issued.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has extended an amber cold health alert for all regions in England until 12pm on Sunday, January 11.
This means there is a greater risk to life for vulnerable people, including those who are homeless.
Those living on the streets in the UK’s capital will not automatically be found shelter if temperatures are above 0°C.
This is because the Mayor of London sent out a notice saying the Severe Weather Emergency Protocol (SWEP) will be deactivated.
What is the Severe Weather Emergency Protocol?
The Severe Weather Emergency Protocol (SWEP) is activated when the temperature is forecast to fall to 0°C or below.
Local authorities may also trigger SWEP based on other severe weather conditions such as wind, rain, or snow, that could pose significant health risks.
When SWEP is activated, additional emergency accommodation is made available to all rough sleepers, regardless of eligibility.
Outreach teams also go out and try to engage with those living on the streets to encourage them to come inside to a warm, safe place.
At times like this, many of us would like to be able to help rough sleepers, but are not sure how.
So, here we take a look at what steps you can take to support those struggling on the streets during freezing temperatures.
How to help homeless people when it’s cold
If you’re in England or Wales, the best thing to do if you see someone who is sleeping rough is to contact Streetlink.
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Essentially, this allows you to send an alert to a local outreach service – such as your local authority or a homeless charity, such as St Mungo’s.
They will then be able to locate the person sleeping rough to make sure they know about the support available to them.
You’ll need to provide the exact location of the person you’re worried about by describing the area, as well as pinpointing it on a map – plus what time of day you saw or interacted with them.
You’ll also need to provide a description of their appearance, name, age (if possible) and other identifying characteristics – to help the outreach service identify them.
If you need to make contact now, send your Streetlink alert via their website or call 0300 500 0914.
This advice only applies to adults. If the person appears to be under 18, you should contact the police instead.
But always call 999 in an emergency if you believe someone needs immediate medical attention.
Finally, you can contact your local council to make a report or ensure that someone you’ve spotted locally is getting support. Find the best contact number or email address on gov.uk.
Many councils operate a SWEP, so they should have a plan in place to help local homeless people.
Other ways to help the homeless this winter
If you want to do your part in tackling homelessness in the long term, there are other ways to help during winter – and throughout the year.
Donate coats and blankets
Got a coat you never wear? Donate them to a charity like Wrap Up UK.
Not in your area? Find your local homeless shelter, or a similar service, via Homeless Link, or visit the Salvation Army clothing bank to see what they currently need.
Likewise, blankets, sleeping bags and warm clothing are much-needed donations.
Offer warm drinks/food
If you want to offer something to a rough sleeper directly, you can always ask if they would like anything to eat or drink.
Speak to them first to ensure it’s something they want or need, and Shelter also says it’s okay to provide blankets, or warm clothing.
If you can’t offer anything, you can always offer a friendly hello, check they’re alright and contact Streetlink.
Donate to a charity or volunteer
Alternatively, you can make a donation to a homelessness charity, which will go towards providing shelter and food.
There are a number of UK charities you can donate to, including (but not limited to):
Many of these charities may be open to volunteers who have time, rather than money, to spare.
Visit their official websites above for further details on what’s needed.
Another way to help is by subscribing to The Big Issue, a magazine working to end homelessness.
Often, homeless people will work as vendors for the magazine – you can buy issues directly from them, or subscribe online.
This article was originally published on December 4, 2023
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