Western Morning News (Saturday)
Shelter offered to rough sleepers during cold snap
PLUMMETING temperatures have prompted Exeter City Council to activate measures to ensure extra emergency accommodation is made available to rough sleepers for five nights.
As temperatures dip below freezing, the council increased its emergency provisions under its Severe Weather Emergency Protocol.
The protocol means that individuals identified as sleeping rough in the city by the outreach service, working with other local homelessness partner agencies, will be contacted and offered the opportunity to come indoors during the spell of cold weather.
The council said it and its partner agencies have been working tirelessly over the last few months to ensure as many local rough sleepers have already been accommodated especially prior to the deterioration of winter weather.
As a result, numbers on the streets have more than halved since early November.
Homelessness services are currently working to contact a primary list of 15 persons known to be regularly rough sleeping in and around the city.
The first few of these individuals were booked into accommodation on Wednesday afternoon and further bookings will be made as and when contact is made.
A spokesperson for Exeter City Council said: “As a result of the ongoing pandemic, sleeping spaces in communal settings have been closed and therefore the number of emergency accommodation options are very limited for people willing to come off the streets.
“All offers of accommodation will only be made subject to an assessment of individual needs, risk and capability which includes a person’s ability to be compliant with accommodation rules.
“The majority of accommodation placements will be provided through bookings with local B&Bs in and around the city.
“At present services are concentrating on reaching those 15 persons known to be regularly sleeping in and around the city.”
Outreach and the council review the weather forecasts daily and at present the protocol is expected to be deactivated on Monday, January 4. However, this will be reviewed based on updated forecasts later in the week.
Members of the public who see someone they believe to be rough sleeping overnight can report it to the Exeter Assertive Homeless Outreach team on 01392 284287.