The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has triggered a severe weather emergency response in the capital to support rough sleepers struggling to stay safe in soaring temperatures.
The pan-London Severe Weather Emergency Protocols (SWEP) is typically activated when temperatures plummet to freezing in the winter, to prompt councils – alongside homelessness charities – to provide emergency accommodation and support for vulnerable people sleeping rough.
With temperatures set to soar to 34 degrees this week and with a Level Three Heat Alert being issued by the Met Office, the Mayor is ensuring there is vital support in place for rough sleepers across the capital. People sleeping rough are especially vulnerable to the heat, being more likely to suffer from mental health issues, chronic health conditions and substance abuse problems.
City Hall has written to all boroughs and rough sleeping services and asked that they:
- Increase the frequency and alter the times of outreach shifts to boost daytime provision
- Support local borough outreach teams to conduct welfare checks on known vulnerable people and set out how to identify the signs of heat stress
- Ensure that all outreach teams, including the Mayor’s Rapid Response Team who respond to the StreetLink referrals in 25 boroughs, can provide sunscreen and water to rough sleepers
- Provide advice and information (to both clients and services) about how to stay cool and safe
- Ensure all outreach teams and clients are aware of the cool spaces and water fountains nearest to them
Members of the public concerned for anyone rough sleeping should contact StreetLink.