Help Save Homeless Londoners' Lives

 

"As temperatures drop to freezing, the @mayorofldn.bsky.social and London Councils have activated the Severe Weather Emergency Protocol (SWEP), which means that London boroughs and City Hall will be opening up emergency accommodation for rough sleepers".

Hat tip @tomcopley.bsky.social

Concerned about someone sleeping rough?

Hat tip Newham Council "If you are concerned about someone who is rough sleeping and medical attention is not immediately required, you can make a referral to StreetLink through their website or call 0300 500 0914 which is charged at normal call rate.  

You will need to provide:

• ​a specific location of the rough sleeper to enable our outreach team to find them
• the time the rough sleeper has been seen at the location
• any information that will help identify them (gender, approximate age, what the person looks like, what they are wearing etc.).

Once your referral is received by StreetLink, they will alert Newham’s outreach team who will seek to find the rough sleeper and connect them to support services within 24hours. You will receive details of the action we have taken as a result of your alert within 10 working days if you have requested it." 

If the person needs urgent medical attention or you believe they are under 18 years of age please call 999.

Severe Weather Emergency Provision or Protocol: What is SWEP?

"Homelessness is an emergency whatever the weather but in winter and freezing weather, people are in even greater danger. Hannah Faulkner, Head of Pan-London Rough Sleeper Services at St Mungo's explains how we help bring people in from the cold during SWEP (Severe Weather Emergency Provision or Protocol).

If you see someone sleeping rough, and the situation is an emergency, please don’t hesitate – call 999 for an ambulance or the police. Otherwise please use StreetLink to tell services where you’ve seen someone sleeping rough. StreetLink is the national homelessness referral line, which we manage in partnership with Homeless Link.. If you see someone sleeping rough, please @Tell_StreetLink through their website or app. Not sure what SWEP stands for? Watch our video:"