ABOUT SEVERE WEATHER EMERGENCY
about severe WEATHER EMERGENCY
Severe Weather Emergency is an ongoing project created by Museum of Homelessness that seeks to investigate and publish findings on UK systems of care and how prepared they are to meet the challenges posed by climate change.
In March 2023, we formally began this work by publishing Severe Weather Emergency, a report that pulls together responses from nearly 100 councils about their responses to severe weather. The report covers the period between summer 2020 and summer 2022.
We are currently in the process of preparing plans for a further investigation covering summer 2022 and summer 2024.
background to the investigation
A focus on Severe Weather Emergency Protocol
Within homelessness, extreme weather is handled by an instrument called Severe Weather Emergency Protocol.
Severe Weather Emergency Protocol is a measure that Local Authorities can activate during periods of severe and extreme weather when there is a heightened risk to people’s lives. When it is activated by a Local Council additional effort will be made to ensure people are safe and this will often involve increased local outreach, providing additional bed spaces and other activities.
Up until this investigation, there has been no comprehensive data set on what councils and homelessness charities actually do when they operate SWEP. The purpose of this investigation is to try and change this as climate conditions get worse. We wanted to produce a more accurate record of what councils and services are actually doing, to see where improvements could be made and to make recommendations for climate emergency preparedness in the UK.
What we found
Our investigation, which looked at data from 91 local authorities covering two years of activity, found that:
· More than a quarter of councils did not activate SWEP in the period, or did not could not provide information on what they did in periods of extreme weather.
· 55% of councils provide ‘short burst’ SWEP, often for one or two nights only. People sleeping rough told us that it was not worth going inside for such short periods.
· 50% of councils did not offer follow on support to people
· More people die in summer than in winter, nevertheless only 53% of councils put measures in to respond to extreme heat.
· During the July 2022 heatwave, when temperatures reached 40 degrees, in London and many other cities SWEP was not activated.
· 0% of councils had measures in place for extreme rain or flash flooding.
· We found evidence that SWEP is offered conditionally, when it should be an emergency humanitarian offer, open to all.
· The verification system, where people have to be seen bedding down to recieve help is putting lives at risk.
· Problems with Streetlink referrals and outreach response times are putting lives at risk.
GET INVOLVED
Year round, we work with the findings of this project to campaign for change and we are actively researching and documenting the affects of climate change on homelessness systems.
Please get in touch if you want to join the coalition and/or be put on our mailing list. You can email our Co-Director Matt with any questions (matt@museumofhomelessness.org).