Emergency weather plan activated to get rough sleepers off streets as temperatures plummet
Sadiq Khan has activated the Severe Weather Emergency Protocol (SWEP) for the first time this year to protect homeless people as temperatures are forecasted to fall below 0°C tonight.
The activation of SWEP ensures that councils across London, alongside homelessness charities, open additional emergency accommodation for people who are sleeping rough during weather conditions that could pose a threat to life.
All boroughs in London have committed to the Mayor’s ‘In for Good’ principle, which means no one will be asked to leave accommodation until a support plan is in place to end their rough sleeping, regardless of an increase in temperature.
The Mayor activated SWEP for the first time this winter on December 7, when overnight temperatures in the capital dipped below freezing.
As London was blasted by snow and endured icy conditions, SWEP was in action for 12 days – the longest continuous period since 2017.
During this 12-day period, councils and charities helped more than 600 Londoners off the streets and into emergency accommodation.
Rising bills and housing costs are forcing growing numbers of people to sleep rough on London’s streets.
The latest quarterly figures from the Combined Homelessness and Information Network (CHAIN) show the number of people sleeping rough in London has jumped 24 per cent in the past year, meaning more than 3,600 people slept on the capital’s streets between June and September.
In December, the Mayor launched his annual winter rough sleeping fundraising campaign, working with charity partner TAP London to raise money for four charities that work with young homeless Londoners: akt, Centrepoint, Depaul UK, and New Horizon Youth Centre. The donations help to support the Youth Homelessness Hub, which recently reopened at a new location in north London.
Londoners can donate to the campaign in a number of ways, including at one of the TAP points or using this link. There are 35 TAP points across London, including at Waterloo, Victoria, London Bridge and Liverpool Street stations. Londoners can also use the StreetLink app or website to connect people they see sleeping rough with local support services.
The mayor of London, Sadiq Khan said: “Across the capital, we are doing everything we can to prevent anyone sleeping rough in these freezing conditions as we work to build a fairer and safer London for everyone.
“I am also encouraging Londoners to download the Streetlink app or use the Streetlink website to connect people they see sleeping rough with local support services.”
(Picture: PA)