Support for people sleeping rough this winter

The city’s Severe Weather Emergency Protocol (SWEP) is set up to offer warmth and shelter for people sleeping rough this winter.

SWEP will open when the temperature is predicted to feel like zero degrees Celsius, or there’s an amber weather warning. This is among the lowest triggers for offering SWEP accommodation in the country.

SWEP provides shelter for everyone sleeping rough in the city and venues are made available to meet demand. The majority of the provision is in single or double rooms with additional congregate space that can be used depending on demand.

When SWEP is triggered, CGL’s Street Outreach Service work in partnership with the council and other services in the city to refer people known to be sleeping rough and those who may be sleeping rough for the first time to come into warm accommodation.

Food is also provided and services will complete a quick assessment and offer support for those who may be new to rough sleeping.

While people sleeping rough are staying in the SWEP provision, services continue to work with to find move on options wherever possible.

SWEP is set up to open - when the weather triggers - until 31 March 2026.

Helping people move away from the streets

SWEP provides additional support during the winter months alongside the supported accommodation available throughout the year.

Alongside SWEP, the city operates several ‘Off Street Offer’ projects:

The main Off Street Offer provides short-stay emergency accommodation in a safe, staffed environment for up to 30 people who have been sleeping rough long-term. The service provides 24-hour support and works in a trauma-informed way to help people begin their recovery from rough sleeping.

Two other projects provide around 28 further places, prioritising couples and women who have experienced rough sleeping. These services offer personalised support and assessments to help people move on from the streets.

The Off Street Offer projects sit alongside the council’s core and grant-funded Supported Accommodation Pathways for single adults and young people, which provide nearly 700 beds across the city. These pathways aim to support individuals into longer-term housing and stability

Concerned about someone sleeping rough?

If you’re concerned about anyone sleeping rough in the city, including people staying in tents, please let us know by reporting through the Streetlink website.

Our Street Outreach Service, provided by Change Grow Live, will then contact them to try to offer them appropriate support and housing assistance. The council funds this specialist service which provides support to people on the streets, all year round.

It’s important that anyone sleeping rough is offered help as soon as possible and that the assistance offered meets their needs, so accommodation for people on the streets is provided through referrals from organisations who understand what’s available and what support is needed.

Reporting where people are bedded down through Streetlink is the best way of making sure that people get the support they need. This route helps us support residents of the city still sleeping on the streets into emergency accommodation.

Preventing homelessness

If you are threatened with homelessness, please contact us to get advice as soon as possible. We can support you with any problems making it difficult to stay in your home.

The homeless prevention and housing options support we provide includes action to prevent applicants from becoming homeless, help to keep or secure accommodation and a personalised housing plan.

Vital support

Councillor Paul Nann, the council’s lead member for homelessness, said: “The city’s SWEP accommodation is a vital service keeping people safe and warm through the winter.

“We believe it is everyone’s right to have somewhere decent to live, and we want to help everyone sleeping on the streets into safe, secure accommodation.

“It’s why our triggers for opening the severe weather accommodation is among the lowest in the country.

“If you are worried about anyone sleeping rough this winter, please do let us know by contacting Streetlink.

“This makes sure we can provide people with the immediate support they need and link them up with services helping move them from the streets.”

Make Change Count

If you’d like to support the charities and organisations in Brighton & Hove working with people to help them find a permanent solution to their homelessness, please donate to Make Change Count.

The Make Change Count campaign links local organisations experienced in supporting rough sleepers and preventing homelessness.

This year’s campaign has raised more than £1,300 so far. Many thanks to everyone who has donated.

Find out more

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