The Mayor of London, , has activated the pan-London
Severe Weather Emergency Protocol (SWEP) for the first time this
winter to protect homeless people as temperatures are forecast to
fall below 0°C tonight.
The activation of SWEP ensures 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.
Sadiq is warning that rising bills and housing costs are forcing
growing numbers of people to sleep rough on London’s streets. The
latest quarterly figures from the Combined Homelessness and
Information Network (CHAIN) show the number of people sleeping
rough in London has jumped 24 per cent in the past year, meaning
more than 3,600 people slept on the capital’s streets between
June and September. The Mayor’s rough sleeping services are
helping more people than ever before, with more than 13,500 rough
sleepers supported off the streets since 2016.
Last week the Mayor launched his annual winter rough sleeping
fundraising campaign, working with charity partner TAP London to
raise money for four charities that work with young homeless
Londoners: akt, Centrepoint, Depaul UK, and New Horizon Youth
Centre. The donations help to support the Youth Homelessness
Hub, which recently reopened at a new location in north London.
Londoners can donate to the campaign in a number of ways,
including at one of the TAP points or using this link. There are
35 TAP points across London, including at Waterloo, Victoria,
London Bridge and Liverpool Street stations.
Londoners can also use the StreetLink app or website to connect
people they see sleeping rough with local support services.
What donations could provide:
£5 could cover the cost of sanitary products for a young person
fleeing domestic abuse.
£20 could help a young person to stay connected to friends and
family with a smartphone.
£50 could cover one night’s accommodation at an LGBTQ+ friendly
hostel, plus food and travel vouchers.
£100 could cover the cost of counselling for up to 10 young
people experiencing homelessness.
£500 could pay for two street outreach sessions per week, to
locate and support young people who are sleeping rough.
Sadiq’s winter rough sleeping campaign has raised more than
£600,000 since 2017.
The Mayor of London, said: “Since 2016,
we’ve quadrupled funding and support to tackle homelessness,
helping over 13,500 rough sleepers off the streets, but there’s
much more to do. Too many people are facing a freezing winter on
the streets of the capital without the safe, secure accommodation
they need.
“Across the capital, we are doing everything we can to prevent
anyone sleeping rough in these freezing conditions as we work to
build a fairer and safer London for everyone. I am also
encouraging Londoners to download the Streetlink app or use the
Streetlink website to connect people they see sleeping rough with
local support services.
“London’s councils and charities will be working even harder this
week to support some of the most vulnerable people in our city.
On behalf of all Londoners I thank them for their tireless
efforts.”
Notes to editors
Online donations to the Mayor’s fundraising campaign can be made
here: https://www.taplondon.org/donate
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.
Last winter there were a total of 776 stays at SWEP (local or
pan-London).
