Havant Borough Council has been carrying out its SWEP (Severe Weather Emergency Protocol) to provide emergency accommodation for those rough sleeping during the continued freezing temperatures.
During this period of severe weather, the council is seeking to provide emergency accommodation for rough sleepers to prevent harm or death due to the severe weather.
During this period of severe weather, the council is seeking to provide emergency accommodation for rough sleepers to prevent harm or death due to the severe weather.
The SWEP response is used by many local authorities when there is a forecast of 0°C or below.
Officers from Havant Borough Council's Housing team have been working closely with Two Saints to contact known rough sleepers in the borough to encourage them to take up the offer of emergency accommodation and offer additional support for anyone continuing to sleep rough during the period of freezing temperatures.
Councillor Amy Redsull, Cabinet lead for Housing, said “We are acutely aware that those rough sleeping on our streets face a further threat when the weather turns cold, as it has this week. I am pleased to see the SWEP (Severe Weather Emergency Protocol) has been put in place to protect them. I strongly urge anyone who sees someone rough sleeping to notify the appropriate authorities, as listed below, so that we can ensure these people are able to access support.”
If you see or know of a rough sleeper or a homeless person, and have any concerns, please contact one of the following places:
Havant Borough Council
Email: Housing.services2@havant.gov.uk
Call: 023 9244 6379
Out Of Hours (from 5:00pm onwards)
Email: SharedMailbox.HousingOOH@portsmouthcc.gov.uk
Call: 07442 453 670
Two Saints
Visit: www.twosaints.org.uk
Call: 023 947 7863
or send an alert to the local rough sleeping outreach service by visiting www.thestreetlink.org.uk.
Alternatively, anyone sleeping rough can drop in to the Public Service Plaza, between 9am and 5pm to seek advice and assistance.
Forecasts and temperatures will continue to be monitored on a daily basis throughout the winter to ensure that at the most critical times everyone can be kept safe.