Cold weather provision

information for people sleeping rough in the cold weather and for members of the public with concerns about individuals they have seen on the streets 

This pages includes up to date information on cold weather provision including winter shelters and outreach teams. It also includes information on the impact of the cold weather and the issues it can cause for rough sleepers.

Coping with cold weather if you are homeless can be an extremely difficult. However many services operate to support people who find themselves rough sleeping during the cold weather period.  This page is about providing up to date information on cold weather provision Nationally to prevent unnecessary harm coming to individuals. If you are a rough sleeper, a member of public in concern or a staff member working with homeless people you may find the following contacts and information useful:

London winter shelters list will be available in November 2012
Homeless UK - find services outside London
London outreach teams
Search for homeless services in London
Details of outreach teams outside of London
Details of cold weather provision in Yorkshire and the Humber region

The Reconnection portal offers solutions for people who may want to return home in or outside the UK.
Cold weather shelters - contact details will be available for the winter 2011/12
 

Severe Weather emergency protocols

NEW guidance has been produced for winter 2011/12, follow the link to read the new guidance on SWEP and extended cold weather provision. We have also produced a helpful Preparing for winter; a guide for day centres, which offers useful guidance for day centres and other homelessness services to support individuals if the winter hits early.

THE IMPACT OF COLD WEATHER

Our street outreach guide provides brief information on the impact of the cold weather and the issues for rough sleepers. 

COLD WEATHER REPORT 2009

In February 2009 Homeless Link, funded by the London Housing Foundation
(LHF), undertook a survey of eight cold weather shelters in London. Click here to download the full report.

Good practice

In London this winter a number of homeless service providers and 21 of the 33 Local Authorities (both inner and outer London) came to a meeting to discuss cold weather provision. Each LA outlined its actions for addressing the cold weather situation including emergency use of B&B, flexible use of statutory powers under HA96 and extra provision within existing hostels/shelters etc. This included ensuring everyone was up to date with the usual  SWEP provision. During last winter Thames Reach were funded by the CLG to do extra outreach shifts, which achieved great success in getting more homeless people into suitable accommodation. See their website for more details.

Liverpool has a new specialist street drinkers outreach service  delivered by the Basement drop in . Details can be found here. The service, funded by the Local Authority, the Joint Action Group and the PCT, consists of a team of three street outreach workers, who cover the city centre and surrounding areas to work with street drinkers, particularly those not engaging with available services.

Yorkshire & Humber held a good practice seminar last year to share good ideas, make sure everyone had up to date contact details and to ensure that  protocols were delivered effectively together. Visit the HAYH website for local information and contacts on cold weather provision in the Y & H area.

Reading implemented an effective Severe Weather Protocol in 2009, which involved multiple agencies across the area working together. Click here to down load protocol.

Preparing for winter 2011/12

If you have any news, information, case studies or good practice that you would like to share with Homeless Link and the rest of the sector, please contact Jessica Plant (020 78404419).