As the nights get colder and longer, Oxford City Council has confirmed how it will offer emergency beds to people experiencing rough sleeping this winter.
The Council activates its severe weather emergency protocol (SWEP) during freezing weather.
While the Council commissions St Mungo’s to deliver an intensive outreach service helping people off the streets all year round, not everyone is usually entitled to support - for example, people from abroad with no right to claim benefits or housing.
Other people experiencing rough sleeping may have previously refused all offers of support or have returned to the streets even though they have accommodation available to them.
SWEP is emergency accommodation for anyone experiencing rough sleeping.
The Council will activate SWEP on every night the Met Office forecasts freezing overnight temperatures. It will also use its discretion to open emergency beds in other severe weather conditions.
These can include snow on the ground, sub-zero ‘feels like’ temperatures or a warmer night in the middle of a prolonged freezing spell.
SWEP provision
Working with a range of partners, the Council has secured a minimum of 41 bed spaces in Oxford.
SWEP was activated on 24 nights last winter, providing 534 stays for 104 different people. The number of people accessing a SWEP bed on any one night ranged from 15 to 34.
While weekly estimates for the number of people sleeping rough are now typically in the mid-40s, not everyone will accept the offer of an emergency bed and others will already have accommodation available to them.
The Council therefore believes there will be enough SWEP beds to meet likely demand. Contingency plans are in place to provide more spaces if the need arises.
Accessing SWEP
The St Mungo’s outreach and assessment team will allocate SWEP beds to people experiencing rough sleeping during the day – letting them know where and when they need to go.
People who have not been allocated a SWEP bed in advance will be able to present at O'Hanlon House between 11 pm and midnight.
One of the SWEP venues is suitable for people with dogs and St Mungo’s can also arrange free kennels if necessary. Kennels must be arranged in advance and are not available on the night.
Find out more about how SWEP works on the Council website
Comment
Councillor Linda Smith, Cabinet Member for Housing and Communities, said: “Nobody should have to sleep rough in Oxford and SWEP provides a lifeline for people at risk during freezing winter weather. SWEP also gives us another chance to offer the support they might need to leave the streets behind for good.
“SWEP relies on people in Oxford’s homelessness services stepping up and taking on extra shifts on top of their day jobs, and I’m grateful for everyone who will help us deliver this vital service.
“St Mungo’s works intensively with people on the streets and will allocate SWEP rooms during the day, telling them how to access the service and where and when to go. If you are concerned about someone experiencing rough sleeping, please contact the outreach team.”
How to report concern about someone experiencing rough sleeping
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