The Severe Weather Emergency Protocol (SWEP) is activated
when temperatures fall below 0°C and ensures councils open
additional emergency accommodation for people sleeping
rough
SWEP was active for 28 nights last winter and has already
run for five days this winter
The Mayor’s rough sleeping services are helping more
people than ever before, with more than 16,000 rough sleepers
supported off the streets since 2016
The Mayor of London, , has today (Monday 8 January)
activated the pan-London Severe Weather Emergency Protocol (SWEP)
to protect homeless people as temperatures are forecast to fall
below 0°C tonight.
This is the first SWEP activation of the year and will ensure
that councils across London, alongside homelessness
charities, open additional emergency accommodation for people who
are sleeping rough during weather conditions that could pose a
threat to life. All boroughs in London have committed to the
Mayor's 'In for Good' principle, which means no one will be asked
to leave accommodation until a support plan is in place to
end their rough sleeping, regardless of an increase in
temperature.
SWEP was active for 28 nights last winter and was active for five
days in November and December 2023. A total number of 1,350
people were helped off the streets last winter, with 560 people
being accommodated during the first SWEP period this winter.
The Mayor’s rough sleeping services are helping more people
than ever before, with more than 16,000 rough sleepers supported
off the streets since 2016. Sadiq has delivered record
funding to homelessness charities and service providers across
the capital, and drastically increased City Hall’s rough sleeping
budget. At £36.3m, the budget in 2023/24 is now more than four
times the £8.45m a year it was when Sadiq took office in 2016 .
In December, the Mayor partnered with charity TAP London to
launch his annual winter rough sleeping fundraising campaign,
urging Londoners to join him in his mission to help end rough
sleeping in the capital. The campaign will raise money for
frontline homelessness services so they can continue their
life-saving work. Since 2017, Londoners have donated over
£700,000 to nominated rough sleeping charities, helping to fund
vital initiatives, projects and support services.
In response to the housing crisis and the soaring cost of living,
the Mayor has repeatedly called on Ministers to immediately
freeze private sector rents and reinstate the social security net
which prevents people becoming homeless. He’s also calling on the
Government to deliver their long-promised reforms to the private
rented sector, including ending Section 21 evictions and to
suspend the No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF) condition, which
puts many people with NRPF status at serious risk of destitution
and homelessness.
The Mayor of London, said: “As the cold
weather returns, we stand ready to help the most vulnerable in
our society. With temperatures dropping below zero across the
capital I’ve activated my Severe Weather Emergency Protocol to
make sure anyone seen sleeping rough in these freezing conditions
is offered a place in emergency accommodation. They will also be
offered support to move on to the safe, secure accommodation they
need.
“Since 2016, we’ve quadrupled funding and support to tackle
homelessness, helping over 16,000 rough sleepers off the streets,
but there’s much more to do. For many Londoners, the
cost-of-living crisis, rising rents and benefit cuts will make
this winter feel longer and colder than ever. We know that these
factors are forcing more people onto the streets. We’re stepping
up support in London, but it’s imperative that ministers stop
turning a blind eye to this crisis and play their part too.”
Notes to editors
- Since winter 2017/18, the GLA has provided guidance for
London’s councils regarding local SWEP plans. This guidance,
which has been agreed by all 33 London councils, introduced a
trigger point for pan-London SWEP activation of 0°C on any one
night to ensure consistency across the capital.
- Londoners can donate to the Mayor’s Rough Sleeping campaign
at one of the TAP points across the capital or online. There are 35
TAP points, including at Waterloo, Victoria, London Bridge and
Liverpool Street stations.
- Londoners can also use the StreetLink website to
connect people they see sleeping rough with local support
services.
