Support for rough sleepers

SWEP Status: Active 19 November 2024

Our Severe Weather Emergency Protocol (SWEP) means that local homelessness agencies provide extra beds to people experiencing rough sleeping during severe winter weather.

SWEP is emergency accommodation for anyone - including people who have no right to claim benefits or housing in the UK, or who have previously refused offers of accommodation and support.

SWEP's primary purpose is to provide emergency shelter during severe winter weather.

We activate SWEP on every night when the Met Office forecasts the overnight temperature in Norwich to be below zero degrees for three consecutive nights.

During winter Norwich City Council prefer to operate SWEP in collaboration with surrounding districts. However, discretion may be used to activate SWEP on a localised basis in circumstances where there is snow forecast in just one part of the county, or similar.

Activating SWEP

We decide whether to activate or extend SWEP for a particular night or period by 11am on any day when it looks like SWEP needs to open and notify housing providers delivering emergency beds of our decision.

A combination of agency staff and staff in existing settings is used to manage SWEP. Staff in local homelessness organisations step up from their regular duties to deal with emergency conditions – this is on top of their day jobs.

During the day, Norwich City Council outreach team and other local agencies work to ensure that everyone who may need to access SWEP are aware that a provision will be made available and that they understand how they can access this service. Norwich City Council will allocate SWEP spaces to people and notify them where and when they need to go that night.

For further information regarding SWEP activation please refer to the protocol linked here

Accessing SWEP

Norwich City Council engages intensively and on a daily basis with people experiencing rough sleeping in Norwich. This is a service that is provided all year around.

Norwich City Council will allocate SWEP accommodation to people during the day, giving them a named venue and telling them where and when they need to arrive.

We believe that there are sufficient beds within the existing hostel system to meet potential demand. However, when SWEP is activated there will be additional provision to increase this capacity. 

Safeguarding

Norwich City Council will allocate SWEP rooms to people in the most appropriate venue, where they have been verified and their needs and behaviours are known.

While everyone is offered a SWEP space, not everyone will accept this and - as a last resort - there are limited circumstances in which a SWEP provider may refuse access to a venue. 

People may be refused access to a SWEP venue if:

• they present outside hours.
• they do not turn up at the designated venue they have been assigned to
• on arrival at a venue, it appears that they present or may present a serious risk to others.

Dogs at SWEP venues

Some hostels and SWEP venues are suitable for people with dogs. However, we cannot guarantee availability, Norwich City Council can also arrange kennels if necessary. Kennels must be arranged in advance and are not available on the night.

SWEP Timeline

This table sets out what happens and who is responsible for this when SWEP beds are activated.

Timeline for SWEP emergency beds