Emergency beds for people experiencing rough sleeping have opened across Oxfordshire.

A Severe Weather Emergency Protocol (SWEP)  has been activated for the rest of this week until Friday morning (November 22).

This is because of a forecast of subzero overnight temperatures.

The SWEP will be reviewed with the forecast on Friday and councils will decide whether to extend or close it.

What is SWEP?

Local homelessness agencies provide extra beds to people experiencing rough sleeping during severe winter weather.

SWEP is emergency accommodation for anyone - including people who have no right to claim benefits or housing in the UK, or who have previously refused offers of accommodation and support.

Who do they work with?

SWEP is activated in consultation with St Mungo's outreach and assessment service, OxSPOT, and in line with guidance from Homeless Link.

How can you access SWEP?

OxSpot engages intensively and on a daily basis with people experiencing rough sleeping in Oxford.

OxSPOT will allocate SWEP rooms to people during the day, giving them a named venue and telling them where and when they need to arrive.

People who have not been allocated a SWEP room in advance can present at O'Hanlon House between 11 pm and midnight.

Dogs at SWEP venues

One of the SWEP venues is suitable for people with dogs and OxSPOT can also arrange free kennels if necessary. Kennels must be arranged in advance and are not available on the night.

St Mungo's warning 

Homelessness charity St Mungo’s is warning of the extreme dangers cold weather presents to people sleeping rough as freezing temperatures hit Oxford.

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.

“As ever St Mungo’s teams are prepared to respond to this this critical situation. We will continue to work tirelessly around the clock to ensure that people are brought into the safe and warm.

“During periods of cold and extreme weather it is essential that members of the public, people experiencing homelessness and other support services are all aware that additional accommodation and support is available.

“Anyone who is concerned about a person who is street homeless should contact StreetLink. And, as ever, if someone is in an emergency situation people should call 999.”