With temperatures expected to drop to freezing over the coming nights, Exeter City Council has introduced extra measures to bring rough sleepers inside.
With temperatures expected to drop to freezing over the coming nights, Exeter City Council has introduced extra measures to bring rough sleepers inside.
The City Council will be activating its Severe Weather Emergency Protocol (SWEP) on Wednesday 20 November through to Monday 25 November. Forecasts indicate that temperatures will rise at the end of the weekend, so the Council will review the Protocol on Monday.
The Protocol makes extra emergency accommodation available to rough sleepers.
Cllr Marina Asvachin, Lead Councillor for Housing, Homelessness and Customer Services, said: “With every night that someone sleeps rough on our streets, they are seriously at risk. With temperatures expected to dip to freezing over the coming nights, that risk increases.
“Once again, we will be providing additional emergency bed spaces during this cold spell to help reduce the chance of harm. I would like to pay tribute to all those working in the homelessness prevention teams. Without their planning and quick action, these emergency beds would not be available.”
The Council is reminding members of the public that they can report someone they believe to be rough sleeping to Streetlink at streetlink.org.uk/
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.
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