Bid to ensure Newcastle s rough sleepers get Covid vaccine as councils ordered to step up efforts
Council bosses say they will attempt to get people living on the city’s streets to register with a GP to help make sure they can be vaccinated against the virus
12:00, 14 JAN 2021
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It has been providing winter beds since December 23 – the longest continuous period ever. Working with charities St Mungo’s, Aspire and Homeless Oxfordshire the council has made 25 rooms at three venues available with the possibility of more if the need arises. Single rooms rather than shared spaces are on offer during the pandemic. Paul Roberts, CEO of Aspire, said: We have already run our shelter in the rapidly refurbished central Oxford accommodation for 15 consecutive nights and it is going well. It has been a privilege to provide relief, dignity and a safe warm space to people experiencing rough sleeping.” Under the Severe Weather Emergency Protocol (SWEP) rooms are on offer every night the Met Office forecasts freezing temperatures. The current forecast is for freezing temperatures every night until Sunday with a ‘feels like’ sub zero temperature on Sunday night.
EMERGENCY overnight accommodation has been made available for rough sleepers in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole as the council have activated their Severe Weather Emergency Protocol. The current spell of freezing overnight temperatures threatens to put the health of those sleeping on the streets at serious risk. BCP Council announced via their Twitter account that their Severe Weather Emergency Protocol (SWEP) response “is in force”, with freezing overnight temperatures predicted for the rest of the week. Rough sleeping is always dangerous but when temperatures drop below freezing, it is considered life threatening. Councillor Robert Lawton, BCP Council Portfolio holder for homes said: “BCP Council and our homelessness partners have activated SWEP, our Severe Weather Emergency Protocol.
Council shameful for not activating emergency rough sleeper help in freezing Christmas weather
Newcastle City Council has been slammed for not engaging its Severe Weather Emergency Protocol (SWEP) despite sub-zero temperatures over the festive period
06:00, 6 JAN 2021
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A council has been branded “shameful” after claiming it was not cold enough for rough sleepers to need emergency support during freezing nights over Christmas and New Year.
Homeless people will be homed in Dorset during a cold weather spell. HOMELESS people will be taken off the streets in Dorset and put in accommodation after Dorset Council activated emergency powers amid freezing weather conditions. The emergency action is being taken after the Met Office issued a 20-hour weather warning for snow and ice in Dorset between 10am on Wednesday, December 30 until 6am on Thursday, December 31. The weather forecaster has also issued a level two ‘alert and readiness’ warning, meaning there is a 60 per cent probability of freezing conditions in the south west. As a result, Dorset Council has activated its Severe Weather Emergency Protocol in a bid to protect the welfare of homeless people and rough sleepers in its area and will be in place until temperatures increase.