Emergency measures to bring rough sleepers inside have been extended in Exeter as freezing temperatures are set to continue.
Exeter City Council has extended its Severe Weather Emergency Protocol (SWEP) until Monday 13 January. The Protocol was activated on 2 January as temperatures across the city plummeted. The City Council will review the Protocol next week.
The Protocol makes extra emergency accommodation available to rough sleepers.
Cllr Marina Asvachin, Lead Councillor for Housing, Homelessness Prevention and Customer Services said: “Each and every night that someone sleeps rough on the streets, they are seriously at risk. With temperatures dipping below freezing, that risk increases.
“For this reason, we will be providing additional emergency bed spaces during the cold spell to help reduce the chance of harm.”
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/
Streetlink is also useful for those that are sleeping rough, who might want to find out about local support services and get some help. They might be sleeping outside or in places that aren't designed for people to live in, including cars or 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 hard with partners in the city to make extra accommodation available during particularly cold or extreme weather. “I would like to thank everyone at the City Council, Julian House and our partner organisations for making these additional bed spaces available and encouraging people to move inside,” added Cllr Asvachin.
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