Emergency Accommodation for Rough Sleepers as Sub-Zero temperatures Hit Oxford.
"St Mungo’s Charity Demands Action as Oxford Activates Emergency Shelter During Snowfall"
St Mungo’s, a homelessness charity, has issued warnings of danger from freezing temperatures to people sleeping rough on the streets of Oxford.
Recent snowfall has been treated as an emergency, prompting efforts to ensure enough beds are prepared for the homeless.
The Severe Weather Emergency Protocol (SWEP) has been activated until Friday 22nd November, providing urgent accommodation. Oxspot (Oxford Street Population Outreach Team) engages regularly with people sleeping rough in Oxford, allocating SWEP rooms to people during the day, giving them a named venue and telling them where and when they need to arrive.
Sub-zero temperatures often result in an increased number of deaths, with the risk being even greater for rough sleepers due to their likelihood of developing cold-related illness and their weakened immune systems’ reduced ability to cope.
Ellie Alway-Thomas, service manager at St Mungo’s said: “These low temperatures can kill people who are street homeless and it is absolutely right this is treated as an emergency.”
SWEP have stated that people who have not been allocated a room in advance can present at O’Hanlon House, Oxfordshire between 11pm and midnight.