Climate Change and Homelessness

Last updated: 27 April 2026

Climate change is fundamentally altering the nature and frequency of severe weather. Historically, extremely cold weather has often been a factor of UK winters, however in recent years extremely hot weather in summers and storms year-round have become increasingly prevalent. In fact, Met Office data show that 2023 and 2024 had some of the highest rainfall since records began (in 1766), and since early 2023 there have been 19 named storms. This the highest number ever recorded in a comparable period.

These changes are having direct and growing consequences for people experiencing homelessness. SWEP (Severe Weather Emergency Protocol) has traditionally been understood as a response to extreme temperatures and Homeless Link has existing guidance on how local authorities and frontline services can best support people who are rough sleeping during extreme heat and freezing temperatures. However, this does not fully cover the risks that other forms of severe weather pose. Climate change is driving more frequent, intense, and unpredictable weather events throughout the year, meaning severe weather is no longer seasonal—it is year-round. As a result, preparedness must extend beyond temperature thresholds to encompass a wider range of severe weather, including high winds and heavy rainfall.

We know from our own research that people experiencing homelessness face worse health than the general population and that the physical health especially of people experiencing homelessness is getting worse. Through this spotlight, we hope to help local authorities and frontline services to incorporate high winds and heavy rain into their SWEP planning.

People with lived experience of rough sleeping contributed to the development of this spotlight and you’ll see quotes from our conversations with them throughout.

The changing nature of SWEP

High winds can destroy tents and bedding, displace people from relatively safe sleeping areas, and significantly increase the risk of injury. Heavy and prolonged rainfall can lead to flooding, waterlogged belongings, hypothermia even in milder temperatures, and the loss of essential documents and medications. These conditions can be just as dangerous and life threatening as extreme cold or heat, yet they are often not recognised within existing responses from homelessness services. This may be because it is more difficult to define a clear trigger for SWEP activation when it comes to high winds and heavy rain. While temperature is a clear numerical metric, the Met Office, for example, sets warning levels for high winds and heavy rain based on their potential impact rather than wind speed or forecast volume of rainfall. Named storms - such as Amy, Benjamin, Claudia, Bram, Goretti, Chandra, and Dave, all of which hit the UK in the 6 months between early October 2025 and early April 2026 - are those the Met Office think have the potential to cause levels of disruption or damage that require an amber or red warning.

“Stormy weather is probably the most dangerous time to be out in terms of health. The wind is howling, you’re out in the open, you might not get any sleep. You can end up losing important things.”

Homelessness services have developed robust and well-established policies for responding to extreme temperatures, demonstrating the sector’s ability to adapt when risk is clearly defined. However, as a result of climate change, there is an urgent need to develop clear policies and procedures for responding to severe weather events such as high winds and heavy rainfall, ensuring that support can be mobilised proactively rather than reactively.

“During severe weather, people use services more, so it’s more rushed and staff become overwhelmed. You don’t get as much support. There needs to be pre-planning when severe weather comes, more shelters and community hubs. So much was done during Covid and now it’s not happening”.

SWEP responses have historically been accommodation-led, however, there are opportunities in the government’s new National Plan to End Homelessness to broaden input from non-accommodation-based services. For example, the intended ‘duty to collaborate’ across key public services could provide daytime dry spaces during periods of extreme wet weather. The Plan also calls for a move away from ‘verification’ of rough sleeping, which has been shown by the Museum of Homelessness, in their 2026 Severe Weather Emergency report, to be a barrier to safety in some areas of England.

“42% of surveyed councils had some kind of verification system [for accessing SWEP]. It is disappointing to see so much evidence of gatekeeping in SWEP responses” (Museum of Homelessness, Severe Weather Emergency, Second Edition)

If SWEP is to remain effective in a changing climate, it must evolve. This means broadening our understanding of ‘severe weather’ and beginning to plan for risks beyond heat and cold. By adapting now, services can reduce harm, save lives, and ensure that emergency responses remain fit for purpose in an era of climate uncertainty.

Health impacts of severe weather on people experiencing homelessness

Heavy rainfall

Hypothermia: Even in mild temperatures, heavy and persistent rain greatly increases the risk of hypothermia. Wet clothing and bedding reduces body temperature, and wind, combined with rain, accelerates heat loss.
Respiratory illness: Repeated exposure to damp conditions increases the risk of chest infections, pneumonia, and the worsening of existing respiratory conditions such as asthma or COPD.
Skin conditions and wound complications: Constant moisture can lead to skin breakdown, fungal infections (such as trench foot), rashes, and infected cuts or ulcers. For people with existing wounds, diabetes, or poor circulation, heavy rainfall significantly increases the risk of serious infection and delayed healing.
Worsening of long-term conditions: Damp, cold conditions can worsen arthritis, cardiovascular conditions, fatigue, and mobility issues.
Increased risk of injury and harm: Flooded or unstable ground increases the risk of slips, falls, and accidents. In urban environments, heavy rain can also expose people to contaminated water, sewage overflow, and debris, increasing the risk of illness and injury.
Mental health impacts: Heavy rainfall can increase stress and anxiety. The loss of belongings, lack of sleep due to flooding or constant movement, and fear of worsening conditions can exacerbate existing mental health needs.

“I have fibromyalgia now. My body was healthy before. And now it's very… fragile [...] It impacts everything now. I can't even hold something in my hand for a long time, like even just a coat or a bag, or anything. I can't walk, can't sit for too long.”

“You feel like everybody is looking at you, and they know what you're going through and judging you as well.”

High winds

Risk of physical injury: High winds increase the likelihood of injuries from falling debris such as branches, roof materials and signage. People sleeping rough are often in exposed locations (doorways, under scaffolding, in parks), which can become extremely dangerous during high winds. Temporary shelters, tents, and makeshift structures are at high risk of collapse, leading to potential injuries.
Hypothermia: Wind dramatically accelerates heat loss by stripping warmth from the body. Even at milder temperatures, high winds can create ‘feels like’ temperatures that place people at risk of hypothermia, particularly when combined with rain, damp clothing, or exhaustion.
Respiratory illness: Strong winds increase exposure to cold air, dust and pollution which can trigger asthma attacks, worsen COPD, and increase coughing, breathlessness, and chest pain.
Sleep deprivation and physical exhaustion: High winds make it difficult or impossible to sleep due to noise, fear, instability of shelters, and the need to repeatedly relocate to avoid danger. Lack of sleep reduces immune function, impacts mental health, and increases vulnerability to illness and injury.
Mental health impacts: Storm conditions can cause anxiety and fear, particularly overnight. The constant need to stay alert for danger, combined with exposure and uncertainty, can exacerbate existing mental health conditions, and heighten trauma responses.

“Members of the public join you where you are sheltering when it’s bad weather, and then they move on – they can go home, but you’re stuck outside. It can be hard on your mental health.”

Case Study

Glasgow City Mission

Within Glasgow City Council, the Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP) do not operate an official SWEP protocol, instead referring to ‘everyone in’ during severe weather. Glasgow HSCP aim to provide emergency accommodation for anyone sleeping rough when a severe weather event is happening, especially when there is a red weather warning from the Met Office, or a ‘risk to life’. When there is severe weather, HSCP liaise directly with the Simon Community Scotland Rough Sleepers and Vulnerable Persons (RSVP) team who will go out and visit people sleeping rough to ensure they are directly offered accommodation. Most agencies in Glasgow communicate during periods of severe weather to ensure no one is without accommodation and support.

In 2025, Glasgow experienced Storm Éowyn where there was a risk to life due to high winds. The HSCP and RSVP worked together to identify people who were rough sleeping and offered them accommodation. One individual known to Glasgow City Mission was rough sleeping further out of the city, but due to concerns, they arranged a taxi to pick him up and the HSCP provided him with emergency accommodation.

There are a group of organisations in the city that have their own SWEP plan in place: Glasgow City Mission, Simon Community Scotland, LHM360, and the Marie Trust. It is agreed that one of their CEO’s can initiate the SWEP plan if there is a weather warning in place. It is agreed that one organisation will remain open if they are all struggling to get staff into the buildings. In order to keep one building open, staff can be pulled in from other organisations, depending on who is able to get into the city centre.

Case Study

Cornwall Council

Cornwall, being a peninsula, is exposed on three sides to the Atlantic Ocean. This geography can lead to frequent and intense storms, resulting in high winds, heavy rainfall, and rapidly changing weather patterns being very localised. High cliff edges susceptible to collapsing due to tidal surges, and exposed coastlines create additional risk for people sheltering outdoors.

Cornwall Council are acutely aware that high winds and heavy rainfall pose significant and immediate health risks to people sleeping rough if they are not reached or located rapidly. People sleeping rough in Cornwall tend not to be as visible as they are in cities and larger towns, with most individuals staying in remote or hidden rural locations.

Cornwall’s combination of exposed coastal geography, limited shelter availability, health vulnerabilities among people sleeping rough, and restricted access to healthcare and transport makes severe weather especially dangerous. Activating SWEP during high winds and heavy rainfall is therefore an essential, lifesaving measure designed to protect the county’s most vulnerable residents. Prior to activation, meetings are held to weigh up the risks regarding weather heading in, but also the likelihood of weather escalating. This often results in prolonged periods of activation due to mobilisation of staff and services. Even during what seems like ‘calmer weather’, Cornwall Council continually keep checking the weather forecast, looking for any changes.

Cornwall has a very limited number of emergency accommodation units across the county, many of which are concentrated in a small number of towns. It can be up to a 2-hour drive from one end of the county to another, which can be distressing for individuals, and removes them from their usual support network. Therefore, when SWEP is activated, Cornwall Council always activates a county wide SWEP, rather than a localised one, placing people as close to the area known to them as possible.

Good practice recommendations for responding to high winds and heavy rainfall

For Local Authorities

SWEP is not just for extreme temperatures. When there is a ‘risk to life’ due to other forms of extreme weather, SWEP should be activated.
When the Met Office issues a Red Warning, SWEP must be activated and there must be access to emergency accommodation.
When the Met Office issues an Amber Warning, think about your local context and location e.g., rural/urban, and what you need to have in place to ensure that everyone has somewhere safe and dry to go.
When the Met Office issues a Yellow Warning, you need to ‘be aware’ of any particularly vulnerable individuals for whom even moderately high or short bursts of high wind and rain would be potentially dangerous.
‘Dry spaces’ should be available during periods of heavy rainfall – Local Authorities should consider funding local day centres to extend their opening hours.
Ensure ‘dry spaces’ are communicated effectively: Local Authorities should work in partnership with non-commissioned outreach teams, day centres, local transport hubs, emergency departments, churches, libraries etc.

“People have misconceptions that people will be ok rough sleeping in severe weather, that’s it’s just a storm for a couple of nights. But this is a protection for their own feelings. It’s dangerous.”

For frontline homelessness services

Where possible, day centres should provide washing and drying facilities throughout the year. Clothing banks should also be made available where possible – consider linking in with other voluntary organisations/charity shops to obtain items.
Outreach teams should provide ‘dry bags’ to people sleeping rough, to ensure important documents/belongings can be protected from wet weather. Where possible, outreach teams should provide waterproof clothing to people rough sleeping, especially when SWEP has not been activated but the weather is poor.
Outreach services should ensure their staff have appropriate clothing and footwear for going out on shift during wet/stormy weather.
Frontline services should be knowledgeable about the health impacts of heavy rainfall and high winds and be able to communicate to these to people accessing services. Staff should look be able to identify and respond to signs of hypothermia.

“Underground and railway stations should be open during the night when there are storms. Staff should understand the risks of severe weather for people sleeping rough so they can let people shelter there”