ROUGH sleepers in parts of Somerset are being offered emergency accommodation as temperatures plummet.

Somerset Council’s Severe Weather Emergency Provision (SWEP) is active as temperatures of zero degrees or below zero are forecast for three consecutive nights.

Under the provision, the council seeks to provide emergency accommodation for rough sleepers to prevent harm or death due to the freezing weather conditions.

As a result, outreach teams are contacting rough sleepers in the county to encourage them to take up offer of emergency accommodation.

The council said SWEP in Somerset has two aims:
To ensure that no one dies on the streets due to severe weather
To ensure that every effort is made to engage individuals with support

People are being urged to share the following information in their networks.

“Safe and warm accommodation may be available for rough sleepers during the cold weather.

“If the temperatures are below zero in your area, please check if you can access the service by calling 0300 123 22 24 during office hours and 0300 123 23 27 out of office hours.

“Spaces are limited, so please phone as early as possible.”

Anyone concerned someone is rough sleeping in Somerset during this cold weather, visit Street Link to refer them, so they can get access to safe and warm accommodation, via thestreetlink.org.uk.

For more on Somerset Council’s severe weather emergency provision (SWEP), log on to www.somerset.gov.uk/swep.