Introduction
SWEP (Severe Weather Emergency Protocol) is a locally agreed procedure and offer followed to minimise harm or death to anyone who might be sleeping rough in severe weather, through the provision of emergency accommodation.
There is no single definition of severe weather for the purpose of triggering emergency accommodation. Many local authorities have adopted an approach to trigger SWEP during cold periods when the weather is forecast at zero degrees or below for three consecutive nights or more. SWEP can also be activated during bouts of other severe weather including wind, snow, rain, and heat.
The provision of accommodation from a council is not a statutory duty unless a person is considered homeless and in priority need of assistance, even during cold or severe weather when conditions may be life threatening. However, there is a humanitarian obligation on local authorities to do all they can to prevent deaths on the streets, and for their partners and the public to support these efforts. Furthermore, it also gives services the opportunity to engage with individuals who have previously resisted engagement with health, wellbeing, and support services.
Norwich City Council has an established year-round approach and commitment to ending rough sleeping in its area and there is additional pressure on the council’s resources in periods of severe weather (including extreme heat) to prevent the loss of life on the streets. As SWEP is not a statutory duty the offer of accommodation can differ between local authorities. Common offers can include hotel beds, shelter in faith-based spaces, hostel beds etc.
Purpose and Aims of Protocol
The purpose of SWEP is to preserve life during severe weather for those people sleeping rough who are not normally eligible for statutory services.
It is important to note here that any people known to be sleeping rough in the area will have already been offered advice and assistance and encouraged to engage with the support that is available.
SWEP Aims to
- Prevent harm or death amongst anyone sleeping rough during severe weather.
- Provide shelter for people sleeping rough who under normal circumstances would not be owed a statutory duty under Part VII of the Housing Act 1996, or who would not normally engage with services
- Prevent those accessing SWEP provision from having to return to the streets
- Assist people sleeping rough who use the SWEP provision to access other support services to meet their needs
When is SWEP Activated in Norwich?
- SWEP is triggered when the night-time temperature is predicted to be zero degrees Celsius or below for three consecutive nights. A ‘common sense’ approach will also be applied here, taking into account snow on the ground, a sub-zero ‘feels like’ forecast. Timing of SWEP activation will also be taken into account so it can be activated during core hours where agencies are available to support. For instance, triggering SWEP in advance of temperatures falling over a weekend or holiday period.
- Consideration will be given to implementing SWEP when the MET office issues red and amber weather alerts for the area of Norwich for other forms of extreme weather such as high winds, storms etc.
- When SWEP is activated network partners will be emailed, the council’s social media pages will communicate this information and the council’s SWEP webpage will indicate when activated and further information.
Who Does it Apply to?
SWEP applies to any individual sleeping rough on the streets during the period SWEP is activated. The criteria that must be met in order for a rough sleeper to qualify for assistance through SWEP are:
- They must be at risk if they continue to sleep rough during the period of severe weather.
- They must have nowhere available to them to sleep indoors during the course of the severe weather (indoors does not include cars, sheds or garages)
- Abide by the rules of the SWEP accommodation provider
- Not pose significant risk to staff or other service users
- People who are not considered ‘priority need’ e.g. a family with dependent children. These customers will qualify for other forms of temporary accommodation.
- Does not have any accommodation available to them which is reasonable for them to occupy.
- People aged over 18. Support for those under the age of 18 is provided by the County Council.
SWEP operates outside of the usual eligibility and priority frameworks and therefore can be utilised by customers who may not be able to access housing provision. These include customers:
- With No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF)
- Who have previously been excluded, banned or evicted from accommodation due to their behaviour.
- No local connection
- Without rough sleeper verification who have not previously had contact with outreach services and/or support.
Who is Involved in Delivering SWEP
Norwich City Council is the responsible authority for triggering SWEP.
Network partners will be involved in providing and assisting with the running of emergency accommodation.
Out of hours service for Norwich City Council currently held by Norse.
Published October 2024.
Next review date October 2025
