Worcester's Salvation Army homeless night shelter is preparing for a potential influx of homeless and vulnerable people as cold weather hits the city.
The Severe Weather Emergency Protocol (SWEP) has been activated, meaning the Salvation Army night shelter will be opening its doors for emergency accommodation in the cold weather.
The night shelter was expected to be opening early over the weekend to deal with the influx of rough sleepers as part of SWEP being activated.
The shelter was not opened early however due to the temperature being higher than expected, and this is the first time this winter the protocol has been activated.
The shelter is run by the charity Caring for Communities and People, who provide bedding, food and washing facilities to those in need.
Worcester’s night shelter at the Trinity in Queen Street will be open from 9.30pm on November 1st until 8.30am the following day.
In March this year the night shelter moved from its base at Maggs Day Centre to the Trinity after the shelter hit its max capacity due to a spike in the number of rough sleepers seeking shelter.
SWEP is a temporary arrangement to provide safe spaces for homeless and vulnerable people using, for example, communal areas of hostels, booking people into bed and breakfasts for the night, or simply letting people sleep on the floor of a public building.
It is put in to action if the temperature at night is expected to hit zero, at which point the shelter will prepare to open its doors.
Staff from the Salvation Army and Caring for Communities and People will be out at night advising rough sleepers to go to the shelter.
Though active in many areas, SWEP is not a national system and it is up to each local authority to decide the weather and temperature threshold in their area.
Anyone who sees a rough sleeper on the streets of Worcester is advised to point them in the direction of the Salvation Army night shelter at the Trinity, Queen Street.
In 2016, the homeless charity Shelter found that Worcester had the sixth highest rate of homelessness in the West Midlands, with an estimated 124 rough sleepers at that time.
Caring for Communities and People were unavailable for comment.
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