As our morning weather forecast noted yesterday, "crisp, shiversome temperatures" have us in their icy grip and today, homeless charity St Mungo's has opened a pan-London emergency shelter to provide vital respite for rough sleepers during sub-zero conditions.
When the temperature drops below zero for three nights on the trot, severe weather emergency provision (SWEP) kicks in and local authorities work with housing providers to bring rough sleepers in from the cold. St Mungo's emergency shelter will help cope with demand from across the capital while their Outreach teams will be actively looking for street sleepers and enabling them to access this lifeline of a service.
The shelter offers an emergency bed, a hot shower, clean clothes, and hot food. St Mungo's staff also work to help rough sleepers find more permanent accommodation or move on options so they don't end up back where they started once the temperature rises above freezing again.
If you are concerned about a rough sleeper:
- Get in touch via St Mungo’s Street Concern service via www.streetconcern.org
- Contact No Second Night Out on 0870 3833333
- Contact national rough sleeper service Street Link on 0300 500 0914
- In an emergency, contact 999 for emergency police or ambulance services
Donations can be made via www.mungos.org or by telephone 020 8600 3000
