Brighton and Hove City Council have opened severe weather shelters for rough sleepers, as temperatures continue to fall in the city.
The severe weather shelters are open to anyone sleeping rough and are being run by Brighton Housing Trust (BHT) .
If you are concerned about a rough sleeper at any time of the year, the council advise using Streetlink to get in contact with touch with their outreach team – members of the public can report their concerns online or by calling 0300 500 0914.
Brighton Housing Trust work with the council’s street outreach service run by St Mungos Broadway. St Mungo’s will be working with other local organisations to inform rough sleepers about the shelters and to assist BHT in co-ordinating shelter places.
Brighton Housing Trust have recently launched their Winter Appeal, asking for one off or regular donations to help people with housing trouble this winter.
The Council’s winter service team also supports residents and community groups, who want to set up schemes to support one another during severe weather.
The council are also calling on residents to keep an eye on elderly and vulnerable people who may have needs around food, medicine or care.
Councillor Gill Mitchell, chair of the Environment, Transport and Sustainability Committee, said: “The council is well prepared for winter conditions but in cases of severe weather we need your help too. It’s important that we support each other during severe winter weather such as clearing paths and checking on elderly neighbours.”
St. Mungos homeless charity said: “During the extreme cold weather our outreach teams in London (Westminster, Southwark and Ealing) and the South (Bristol, Oxford, Reading, Gloucestershire, Sussex, Brighton and Hove and South Essex) are out supporting individuals into emergency shelter provision, engaging even more with rough sleepers and those in need, and tracking down new referrals.”
Photo: Alexander Baxevanis
