It’s very cold now, which means people sleeping rough face even greater dangers than usual.
The Met Office predicted that Saturday would bring a dry day in most areas with some sunny spells, although with some showers along the coast and feeling cold with frost and patches of fog overnight.
It said temperatures will drop to -4C in parts of rural south-west England on Saturday night and to -6C in rural areas along the Welsh border in Shropshire and north Herefordshire on Sunday night.
The UKHSA has issued a yellow cold weather alert for vulnerable and elderly people from 9am on Saturday until midday on January 12, with temperatures likely to be a few degrees below average across much of the UK. , especially at night, and ice is a problem on wet ground.
But when money is tight, you might wonder what you can do to help people on the streets. Here are some suggestions…Stop to say hello and check that they are okay.
“Homelessness can be an incredibly isolating experience,” says Matt Downie, CEO of Crisis. “So recognizing people, being a friendly face and stopping to say hello and asking if they’re okay can go a long way.
Ask if there is anything they need.
If you want to help someone by giving them something, “it’s always best to ask someone if they want your help first,” adds Downie. Ask them what they might need or like.
“This could be a hot drink or some hot food to help them warm up,” says Downie. But he checks to see if they have any allergies, or even if they have any preferences. They may have recently eaten and have no way to keep the food warm.
Look what you have at home
“You could offer them warm clothing, such as gloves, hats, scarves, or a blanket,” Downie suggests.
Make sure they are in good condition and really hot. There may even be some cheap charity shop options that you could offer to rough sleepers near you; That way you will be doing two good works at once.
Check out Streetlink
Many people don’t know that “if you are in England or Wales, you can refer rough sleepers to Streetlink (streetlink.org.uk), an app and helpline that connects rough sleepers with local support and services, including the provision of cold weather services. . If you are in Scotland you can contact your local council,” says Downie.
This could be a vital lifeline for someone rough sleeping and if you don’t have access to the internet you may not know that you can access this service yourself. So by learning about Streetlink and telling your friends, you could end up helping someone get a warm bed for the night.
Be decisive if you are really worried
“If you are concerned that someone is in immediate danger due to the cold weather, call 999,” Downie says candidly.
Sleeping outdoors kills, whether from exposure, pneumonia, or the flu, and someone may be sicker than they think. Watch for signs of hypothermia such as chills, memory loss, slurred speech, clumsy hands, and drowsiness. Better safe than sorry.
Ask your town hall about SWEP
“SWEP stands for Severe Weather Emergency Protocol and provides emergency support to rough sleepers when temperatures drop dramatically. During SWEP, councils open up extra beds in night shelters, as well as other services,” says Alicia Walker, director of policy, research and campaigns at Centrepoint (centrepoint.org.uk).
Refer young people to day centers“Day centers offer practical help, such as hot meals and access to showers and laundry,” says Walker. “You can find your nearest day center using the Homeless Link directory [homeless.org.uk] or by calling the Centrepoint helpline on 0808 800 0661.”
Do you want to do more?Walker adds, “If you have some free time, you might also be able to volunteer at a day shelter if they need an extra pair of hands.”
