Accommodation for rough sleepers as temperatures plummet

Severe Weather Emergency Protocol in place

Rough sleepers in Exeter are being offered indoor bed spaces as temperatures plummet.

Exeter City Council has triggered a Severe Weather Emergency Protocol in the face of tumbling temperatures.

The protocol was in place over Christmas and has been renewed for the coming weekend. It will stay in place until Monday, when it will be reviewed again.

Its aim is to make additional emergency accommodation available to rough sleepers.

The protocol is also in place in Torbay.

Exeter Cllr Marina Asvachin (Lab, Priory), the city’s lead councillor for housing, said: “New Year’s temperatures have plummeted and with every night that someone sleeps rough on the streets, they are seriously at risk. That risk increases when temperatures fall below freezing, so that is why we are activating this protocol.”

The council says people can report someone they believe to be sleeping rough to StreetLink at www.streetlink.org.uk

StreetLink is also useful for people who are sleeping rough and want to find out about local support services and get help. The severe weather protocol 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.

Earlier this week Torbay Council also triggered a similar response to bad weather.

A Met Office Yellow Warning for snow and ice in force from 3pm on Sunday until midday on Tuesday.