Salvation Army activates severe weather emergency beds

With freezing temperatures in many parts of the UK, The Salvation Army is once again working with councils and other organisations to provide emergency beds and outreach support to prevent people from dying of the cold on the streets. 

The church and charity is also urging the public to check on people who are forced to live on the streets, and to ask people if they’ve referred themselves to their local council or Streetlink for help getting emergency shelter. 

Emergency beds are being made available by The Salvation Army at locations across England and Wales to help people, who would otherwise have to sleep on the streets, stay warm this winter as part of the Severe Weather Emergency Protocol (SWEP). 

While SWEP protocols don’t apply in Scotland, each council still makes its own emergency provision, with Salvation Army Lifehouse (hostel) spaces used by councils all year round as part of their emergency accommodation provision.

SWEP comes into force when temperatures drop to zero or below, or where weather conditions are so bad it makes living on the streets hazardous for the people who have nowhere else to go. 

The Salvation Army’s Deputy Director for Homelessness, Nathan Slinn, said: 

“In freezing temperatures, finding somewhere warm and safe to stay can be a matter of life or death for someone who is forced to live on the streets. At The Salvation Army, we’re making the best use of any available space within our homeless Lifehouses to create safe, warm environments where people can be referred through local councils or other organisations. 

“Many of our community churches will also be opening their doors to offer a warm place to shelter from the cold as well as practical support such as hot food, clothing and a warm welcome. 

“As temperatures drop, The Salvation Army and other outreach charities will be checking in on rough sleepers, but our teams can’t be everywhere at once. We ask the public to also look out for rough sleepers and contact Streetlink - https://thestreetlink.org.uk/ - to let them know their location. If someone is in immediate danger, or if the person is under 18 years old, call 999.” 

Every Salvation Army serves its local community in a different way. To find out what your nearest Salvation Army is offering locally, visit: https://www.salvationarmy.org.uk/map-page