Extra measures to bring rough sleepers in during cold snap

Published: 31 March 2022

With temperatures expected to drop down to zero or below over the next few days, Exeter City Council is making extra emergency accommodation available to those rough sleepers most vulnerable from cold weather.

The City Council is activating its Severe Weather Emergency Protocol (SWEP) in light of freezing weather coming in from Thursday 31 March until Monday 4 April.

The Council has reminded members of the public that they can report someone they believe to be rough sleeping to Streetlink at https://www.streetlink.org.uk/ or call 0300 500 0914 (weekends only) or the Assertive Outreach Team on 01392 284287 or email exeter-outreach@julianhouse.org.uk over the coming days.

The SWEP means that individuals confirmed by the outreach service as sleeping rough in the city, will be contacted and offered the opportunity to come indoors during this short spell of cold weather subject to the availability of emergency bedspaces.

The Council and its partner agencies work tirelessly to ensure as many local rough sleepers have already been accommodated especially prior to this cold snap.

Bindu Arjoon, Exeter City Council’s Deputy Chief Executive said they were making available a number of emergency bed spaces within supported housing locations across the city.

“We are keen to ensure that no-one in the city should be sleeping rough and these freezing temperatures make it even more important to get people inside with a roof over their heads,” she added.

Outreach and the City Council review the weather forecasts daily and at present the SWEP is expected to be deactivated on Monday morning (4 April). However this will be reviewed based on updated forecasts later in the week and into the weekend.