The city’s Severe Weather Emergency Protocol (SWEP) is set up to offer warm accommodation for people sleeping rough this winter.
The support will open when the temperature is predicted to feel like zero degrees Celsius, or there’s an amber weather warning. This is among the lowest triggers for offering SWEP accommodation in the country.
SWEP provides shelter for all rough sleepers in the city and venues are made available to meet demand. The majority of the accommodation is in single or double rooms with a small amount of congregate space that can be used depending on demand.
When SWEP is triggered, Change Grow Live’s Street Outreach Service work in partnership with the council and other services in the city to refer known rough sleepers and those who may be sleeping rough for the first time to come into warm accommodation.
Food is also provided in the accommodation and services will complete quick assessment and support for those who may be new to rough sleeping.
While people sleeping rough are staying in SWEP accommodation, services continue to work with to find move on options wherever possible.
SWEP is set up to open – when the weather triggers – until 31 March 2026. It provides additional support during the winter months alongside the supported accommodation available throughout the year.
Alongside SWEP, the city operates several ‘Off Street Offer’ projects:
The main Off Street Offer provides short-stay emergency accommodation in a safe, staffed environment for up to 30 verified long-term rough sleepers. The service provides 24-hour support and works in a trauma-informed way to help people begin their recovery from rough sleeping.
Two other projects provide around 28 further places, prioritising couples, women, and men who have experienced rough sleeping. These services offer personalised support and assessments to help people move on from the streets.
The Off Street Offer projects sit alongside the council’s core and grant-funded Supported Accommodation Pathways for single adults and young people, which provide nearly 700 beds across the city. These pathways aim to support individuals into longer-term housing and stability
Residents concerned about anyone sleeping rough in the city, including people staying in tents, please let us know by reporting through the Streetlink website at www.streetlink.org.uk.
Our Street Outreach Service, provided by Change Grow Live, will then contact them to try to offer them appropriate support and housing assistance. The council funds this specialist service which provides support on the streets, all year round.
It’s important that anyone sleeping rough is offered help as soon as possible and that the assistance offered meets their needs, so accommodation for people on the streets is provided through referrals from organisations who understand what’s available and what support is needed.
Reporting where people are bedded down through Streetlink is the best way of making sure that people get the support they need. This route helps us support residents of the city still sleeping on the streets into emergency accommodation.
Councillor Paul Nann, the council’s lead member for homelessness, said: “The city’s SWEP accommodation is a vital service keeping people safe and warm through the winter.
“We believe it is everyone’s right to have somewhere decent to live, and we want to help everyone sleeping on the streets into safe, secure accommodation.
“It’s why our triggers for opening the severe weather accommodation is among the lowest in the country.
“If you are worried about anyone sleeping rough this winter, please do let us know by contacting Streetlink.
“This makes sure we can provide people with the immediate support they need and link them up with services helping move them from the streets.”
Make Change Count
Residents can support the charities and organisations in Brighton & Hove working with people to help them find a permanent solution to their homelessness by donating to the city’s Make Change Count fundraising campaign at www.justgiving.com/campaign/
The Make Change Count campaign links local organisations experienced in supporting rough sleepers and preventing homelessness.
This year’s campaign has raised more than £1,300 so far. Many thanks to everyone who has donated.
