How we help rough sleepers during extreme weather
Sleeping rough is very dangerous, especially during severe weather.
When the temperature is forecast to drop to 0° (zero degrees) Celsius (or below) for three or more nights, we can help.
This is when our severe weather emergency protocol (SWEP) is activated.
We work with local homelessness services to decide when to activate the protocol. We do this to protect rough sleepers from serious harm, during extreme weather.
The decision considers extreme:
- cold
- wind
- rain
When we activate the protocol, we provide temporary night-time shelter (either directly, or through a partner) for people sleeping rough. We provide this for as long as it's needed.
During the day
Telephone: 0300 300 4370
Lines are open:
- Monday to Thursday, 8:30am until 5:30pm
- Friday, 8:30am until 4:30pm
In the evening, overnight and at weekends
Telephone: 0300 300 8098
Others who can help
NOAH Enterprise
Welfare Centre
141 Park Street
Luton
Bedfordshire
LU1 3HG
Telephone: 01582 728416
Visit NOAH Enterprise's website
NOAH can help if the night temperature is forecast to fall to 0° (zero degrees) Celsius, or below, for 3 nights or more.
Help in Bedford
Find out about support available for rough sleepers in Bedford.
Help in Luton
Find out about support available for rough sleepers in Luton.
If you know of someone sleeping rough
If you know of someone sleeping rough, you can ask for help via StreetLink. It only takes a minute to point an outreach worker to their location and get them help. You'll get an update, when outreach workers have visited the person, about what is being done to help them.
You can also email our outreach service: centralbeds.outreach@noahenterprise.org.