Over the winter months as the temperatures plummets the risks for those sleeping rough become greater.
With temperatures plummeting and severe weather warnings in effect, the risks of death for those sleeping rough significantly increases.
It’s sometimes hard to know the best way to help someone who is sleeping rough or experiencing homelessness. ere we share some practical ways you can make a difference.
StreetLink enables members of the public to connect people sleeping rough with local services in England and Wales.
You can send an alert to StreetLink which will alert local teams to the whereabouts of the individual and allow them to connect them with available support and accommodation.
You can do this on their website, by downloading the mobile phone app or by calling 0300 500 0914. The alert is sent to the appropriate local outreach teams, so that they can find the individual and connect them to support services.
People sleeping rough are often isolated and lonely. They are likely to experience many people walking past and ignoring them, which can be dehumanizing. Be kind; strike up a conversation, ask their name and situation, and ask what they might need.
Check how they are feeling, ask whether they are hungry or thirsty – if so buy them some food, or a hot drink. You can also offer of a woolly hat, gloves or a warm coat. If someone looks unwell, and the temperatures are sub-zero, consider calling 111 for health advice or 999 for an ambulance.
Many councils across the country will activate Severe Weather Emergency Protocols (SWEP) to provide emergency shelter to anyone sleeping rough once temperatures reach zero. Along with creating more indoor spaces, frontline charities will step up their outreach efforts to engage with people on the streets. Reach out to your local council to check if SWEP is activated or to explore further services to assist people sleeping rough in accessing help.
Depaul UK’s emergency accommodation service Nightstop helps young people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. Nightstop can help get people off the streets and into the home of a trained and vetted volunteer the very same day. Our incredible volunteers are ordinary members of the public who offer their spare room for the night, a hot meal, and a listening ear.
Once safe, the young person can get help from our staff to find longer-term solutions, and the support they need to achieve stability in their lives. Nightstop can be a crucial turning point for a young person in crisis.
Every day, more than 350 young people become homeless. This winter, there are thousands of young people in the UK with no safe place to live or regular bed to sleep in.
By donating to Depaul UK’s urgent winter appeal you can help get people off the streets and into safety. The money you donate can help change lives. Even a small donation could make a huge difference to someone this winter.
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