SWEP Is Activated Tonight

A couple of years ago I wrote about an Emergency Shelter facility that was available to the homeless in Chester. The article was obviously aimed at making people aware of the available facilities. Well, just to let you know, SWEP is activated tonight again.

Before I go into details about what SWEP is (in case you don’t know), here’s a link to that original article – https://chesterlifestyle.com/chester-emergency-shelter/

Anyway, SWEP. What is it and what can we do?

SWEP Is Activated Tonight

Have a read of this – SWEP (Severe Weather Emergency Protocol) can be summarised as follows:

Each council across the country is only responsible for homeless people who were either born in their region or who have a relative living there.

If they don’t have a ‘local connection’ then they are told to go to where they do have a local connection. On occasions they are offered a bus or train fare to get to their ‘local connection’.

There is an exception to this. And that is if you have served in the armed forces, then this rule doesn’t apply and you can claim help and housing from any council.

A big problem exists in that the last place many people without a local connection, want to go to, is where their lives changed for the worse. This Government ‘local connection’ policy is in itself a major flaw, but let’s park that thought for now and concentrate on today’s immediate requirement.

As a consequence of avoiding a ‘local connection’ homeless people instead decide to stay and are left out on the streets without any access to the council funded hostels. Unless there is three continuous nights of severe weather that is. At that point the Council is instructed to activate a protocol called Severe Weather Emergency Protocol (SWEP).

SWEP – Other Things To Be Considered

There are factors that may complicate the situation however. For instance each council has a different protocol for SWEP.

As an example, Cheshire West and Chester Council (CWAC) decided that 3 nights is inhumane and they activate SWEP after just 1 night. That’s not to say that all local Councils will do the same.

SWEP Helps Those Without A Local Connection

SWEP means that even those without a Local Connection are allowed access to the 10 Emergency Seats (not beds) that are available.

Once full FENW (Foundation Enterprises North West) who are CWAC’s contracted homeless service provider, will then find other beds or failing that B&B’s or even hotels if necessary. However, whatever happens no one is to be turned away.

Police and FENW and local charity, SHARE, send out teams to try to get people off the streets when SWEP is activated. With temperatures expected to plummet tonight, SWEP is activated in Chester.

SWEP Is Activated – What Can We Do To Help?

So when SWEP is activated due to severe weather please help by letting SHARE or FENW know if you see anyone sleeping rough. This will enable these helpful service providers go out and try to get them in out of the cold.

Here is a number for you to call – 0300 123 2442 for more information and to pass on any information.

This is just a very brief explanation of what SWEP means and the service it provides. The objective of course is to get people out of the cold when SWEP is activated. And just to confirm again, SWEP is activated in Chester TONIGHT.

Where and When?

SWEP will be active tonight – 13th November as it is forecast temperatures will drop to zero or below freezing.

Forfutures Outreach will be allocating beds and will advise where to go to. Who are Forfutures Outreach? Have a look at this link for more information – https://www.forfutures.co.uk/contact-us/ and to find contact details (same telephone number as above).

For those not seen by Outreach please go to 102 Watergate Street for 7pm in Chester or Victoria House in Northwich.

This Is So Important So

Please keep sharing this post as SWEP is now activated. Let’s all do whatever we can and try to get people off the streets before the bad weather hits too hard.

Thanks for reading and helping folks.

Chester Lifestyle Blog Posts

I am sure we will all do what we can to help make things a bit easier for the homeless. This blog post is hugely important so not only take heed – as I said above – share and spread the word however you can.

To see all of my blog posts on a variety of local points of interest or issue, have a look HERE.