Reading Borough Council activates SWEP to help those rough sleeping

• Severe Weather Emergency Protocol (SWEP) activated today until Monday
• Activation provides emergency accommodation for those rough sleeping
• SWEP forms part of wider Council programme of assistance for the most vulnerable

The Council has activated its SWEP (Severe Weather Emergency Protocol) response today to provide emergency accommodation for those rough sleeping during freezing temperatures. The SWEP response will remain activated until Monday 25 November.

Triggered by forecast temperatures of 0 degrees or below for at least three consecutive nights, the Council implements SWEP alongside St Mungo's, one of the Council's charity partners, as a humanitarian response for people who would otherwise be sleeping rough during extreme weather.

Anyone referred to the Council's Homelessness Prevention Team or St Mungo's under SWEP will be assessed, and, if verified as rough sleeping or at high risk of rough sleeping, will be provided with a short-term emergency bed space.

Forecasts and temperatures will continue to be monitored on a daily basis throughout the winter to ensure that at the most critical times everyone can be kept safe.

Matt Yeo, Lead Councillor for Housing, said:

"Reading is proud of its comprehensive support for the most vulnerable in our society. We are acutely aware that those rough sleeping on our streets face more threat when the weather turns cold, as it has done this week, and I'm pleased to see SWEP is now in place to protect them. Please do report anyone you see rough sleeping via StreetLink so we can ensure they are offered help".

SWEP is an integral part of a programme of assistance in place in Reading to protect the most vulnerable in the borough all year round. The Council's wide range of commissioned services to accommodate and support people who find themselves homeless are delivered by The Salvation Army, YMCA Reading and Launchpad Reading.

A total of 249 bed spaces, in addition to those available through the SWEP response, are offered across the Council's Homelessness Support Services to help single people and couples who are found rough sleeping, or at risk of rough sleeping.

Partnerships are also in place with the faith, voluntary and community sector who provide additional support often through provision of food and clothing, or warm spaces.

It was recently announced that the Council's ongoing commitment to tackling rough sleeping was being strengthened by a £121,869 Government grant to support SWEP and the Bed for a Night (B4N) winter shelter run by FAITH Christian Group, and plans to create a daytime warm space offer between January and March, run by voluntary and charity sector partners.

Residents are being urged by the Council to play their part in helping to look after the most vulnerable. If people see someone bedded down who they are worried about, they can go to www.thestreetlink.org.uk to send an alert to the local rough sleeping outreach service which can visit them and offer support into accommodation. Alternatively anyone sleeping rough can drop in to the Council offices between 9am and 5pm to seek advice and assistance. More information can be found at www.reading.gov.uk/roughsleeping