FOLLOWING forecasts of sub-zero temperatures for consecutive nights, Reading Borough Council has put its Severe Weather Emergency Protocol in place until Monday, November 25.
The council works with homelessness charity St Mungo’s to provide services to help those sleeping rough avoid freezing temperatures.
As a result, St Mungo’s Outreach Teams have increased the number of routine shifts being carried out across the activated cities and will continue to ensure that everybody who is on the streets is offered a safe and warm space to stay indoors during these dangerously low temperatures.
Wendy Dodds, 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.”
StreetLink operates 24 hours a day, 365 day a year with alerts being passed to local outreach teams who then use the information to find and support people sleeping rough.
More information about StreetLink is available via: thestreetlink.org.uk
More information about St Mungo’s is available via: mungos.org
