With early January temperatures plummeting well below freezing over the coming nights, Exeter City Council has introduced extra measures to bring rough sleepers indoors.
The City Council has activated its Severe Weather Emergency Protocol (SWEP), which will be in place through Thursday night (2 January), Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Forecasts indicate that temperatures will rise on Sunday, so the Council will review the protocol on Monday.
The protocol makes extra emergency accommodation available to rough sleepers.
Every night someone sleeps rough on the streets, they face serious risk. With temperatures expected to dip below freezing over the coming nights, that risk increases.
Once again, the City Council is providing additional emergency bed spaces during this cold spell to help reduce the chance of harm.
The Council reminds 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 sleeping rough, who might want to find out about local support services and access help. They might be sleeping outside or in places not designed for habitation, including cars, 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 closely with partners in the city to ensure extra accommodation is available during particularly cold or extreme weather.
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