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Oxfordshire Homeless Movement

Submitted by Molly on

SWEP Set to Be Rough Sleepers’ Lifeline Again This Winter

Oxfordshire, 5th November 2024

The Severe Weather Emergency Protocol (SWEP) offers life-saving shelter for Oxfordshire’s homeless during extreme cold. It is based on the MET Office weather forecast.

SWEP is activated when temperatures drop below freezing. Warm and safe shelter is then given for those in need.

Weather might be "severe" if:

  • the temperature falls to zero degrees Celsius or below
  • there is snow on the ground,
  • it is a warmer night during a freezing spell
  • the "feels like" temperature is significantly below zero

Central Government advise how SWEP is managed. Local authorities clarify what is needed locally. Homeless Link provide the toolkit to use for England's homeless sector:

What we do is publish the Oxfordshire advice right here on the ohmteam.org website:

  • I need accommodation in very cold weather - explained

With Christmas and winter fast approaching please give a thought to those working hard to help some of our most vulnerable and in need. Here are some ideas from across our sector:

Give time

  • volunteer for the Oxford city winter night shelter run by charity OWNS, or donate to them today—the night shelter is an official provider for SWEP
  • find out about Christmas volunteering opportunities and the ones available all year round.
  • Remember the charities providing the essential meals and daily services. In Oxford this includes The Porch and The Gatehouse.

Give money

93 projects from 68 organisations and groups focus on the problem of homelessness in Oxfordshire. Many of them have Christmas appeals.

Highlighting every appeal here would be confusing, but you can use our website to vastly narrow your search. Make sure it is specific to your area. (Oxford city's biggest homeless charity is Homeless Oxfordshire. The two charities running essential SWEP services are St Mungo's and Connection Support.)

If you're not sure how to give you can support us with a donation—all OHM core costs are already covered. Every pound you give will go to our projects: NRPF, LEAF, women only services (new), and Making Houses into Homes.

You can also help as a business.

Give things

  • see which items people need most (I want to donate items)—includes a Facebook link for donations support group HOHC