How to Help Homeless People during Severe Weather Emergency Protocol
The Severe Weather Emergency Protocol for Wiltshire is activated when weather conditions suggest there might be a danger to rough sleepers.
If you are concerned about someone rough sleeping, over the age of 18, or if you are struggling yourself, please tell an outreach worker by contacting Street Link www.streetlink.org.uk or call 0300 500 0914.
HOMELESS & NEED HELP PAGESWEP has been actioned by Wiltshire Council, with emergency provision provided at Alabaré Place, Salisbury and Unity House in Chippenham.
Severe Weather Emergency Protocol (SWEP) provides emergency support for rough sleepers when freezing temperatures are forecast. While traditional threshold for triggering SWEP has been nights dropping to zero degrees or below for three consecutive nights, but in Wiltshire, the Council now adopts a more common-sense approach.
Factors taken into account include temperature forecasts, wind chill effects, snow accumulation, rainfall intensity and duration and the overall persistence of extreme weather conditions.
SWEP aims to ensure that vulnerable people are protected and provided for during severe weather, which can mean that we provide essential dorm overnight accommodation at some of our centres.
It is important to note that if you think the person you are concerned about is under 18, please do not contact StreetLink but instead call the police.
StreetLink will ask you to provide the following information if you can do so:
- A specific location for the rough sleeping site. You can do this by using a map to pinpoint the exact location and then provide a written description of the location.
- Details of the time that the rough sleeper has been seen at the location.
- Any information about the rough sleeper that will help find them (gender, approximate age, what the person looks like, what they are wearing).
You will receive details of the action the local authority normally takes when they are told someone is sleeping rough in their area and an update on what has happened if you request it.
If you think the person you are concerned about is in immediate danger or needs urgent care, please call 999.
The Severe Weather Emergency Protocol has already be actioned once this winter by Local Authorities such as Wiltshire Council. SWEP aims to ensure that vulnerable people are protected and provided for during particularly inclement weather, which can mean that we provide essential dorm-style overnight accommodation at some of our centres.
If you are concerned about someone rough sleeping, over the age of 18, or if you are struggling yourself, please tell an outreach worker by contacting Street Link www.streetlink.org.uk or call 0300 500 0914.
Our drop-in service at ALABARÉ Place in Salisbury, funded by our generous supporters including Wiltshire Community Foundation, Chippenham Borough Lands Charity, Salisbury Almshouses, the Co-Op Foundation, and the Girdlers’ Company Charitable Trust, has welcomed ITV Meridian, allowing them to witness first hand the life-saving support we provide.
🎥 Watch Justin’s Story: How an Emergency Bed turned to hope of a new start
Justin was rough sleeping in Salisbury’s Culver Street Car Park for several months. The cold, damp weather led to him catching pneumonia.
After being discharged from the hospital, Justin was referred to ALABARÉ for an emergency bedspace. Subsequently, we were able to offer him a room of his own, which he cherishes very much.
Justin is now rebuilding his confidence and getting his life back on track.
You can also support ALABARÉ’s work, providing homes, restoring hearts, and empowering minds for people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, by donating to our emergency appeal for our drop-in service by clicking the button.
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