With temperatures set to plummet to freezing this week, Bristol City Council and homelessness charity, St Mungo’s, have activated the Severe Weather Emergency Protocol (SWEP), to ensure no-one has to sleep on the streets during this cold snap.
It comes as the UK Health Security Agency issued a Yellow cold health alert on Monday (November 18) at 10am, which is in place through the week until 6pm this Saturday, November 23.
This means that the forecast weather is likely to lead to a greater risk to life of vulnerable people, as well as increased use of healthcare services by vulnerable people.
As a result, Bristol City Council and St Mungo’s have implemented the emergency response, SWEP, which will remain in place until this Friday (November 22), and will then be reviewed daily.
Bristol residents are being urged to look out for anyone who is sleeping rough in the city, and encourage them to call the St Mungo’s Outreach team on 0117 4070330 for help. You may call on their behalf if they are not able to do so themselves – and if you see someone who requires emergency help, always dial 999 first.
The SWEP plans will see increased outreach shifts and more accommodation made available, with the aim of ensuring nobody has to sleep on the streets during such extreme conditions.
Councillor Barry Parsons, Chair of the Homes and Housing Delivery Committee, said: “Rough sleeping always poses a risk to residents, but this extreme cold weather makes people even more vulnerable. It is essential that we ensure as many people rough sleeping as possible are provided with a safe space to sleep.
“There are many reasons why someone might be sleeping rough, and we understand that there is not always one simple solution. It is not just about finding people a home: we must make sure people have access to a range of support, especially for people with physical, emotional, or mental health needs.
“We will continue to regularly engage with community groups, and work with charities like St Mungo’s to help us engage with people who are currently rough sleeping around the city, and try to help them find a path into settled accommodation.”
People experiencing homelessness experience many of the same health conditions as the rest of the population, but with greater prevalence and severity. Rough sleeping in freezing temperatures can increase the risk of hypothermia.
Without somewhere safe and warm for the night and without the right support, these needs can only increase. Over the last year, St Mungo’s supported 439 people into its SWEP accommodation.
Emily Williams, Service Manager at St Mungo’s, said: “These low temperatures can kill people who are street homeless, and it is absolutely right this is treated as an emergency.
“As ever, St Mungo’s teams are prepared to respond to this critical situation. We will continue to work tirelessly around the clock to ensure that people are brought into the safe and warm.
“During periods of cold and extreme weather, it is essential that members of the public, people experiencing homelessness, and other support services, are all aware that additional accommodation and support is available.
“Anyone who is currently sleeping rough in Bristol will be able to access emergency shelter. We advise everyone to phone the Outreach Team on 0117 4070330 to seek support. And, as ever, if someone is in an emergency situation people should call 999.”
The Severe Weather Emergency Protocol has also been implemented in Reading, Oxford, Bournemouth, and across London. For further updates on the severe weather provision, please visit here. Alternatively, for details on cold weather alerts, visit here.