We open a severe weather shelter when the temperature is predicted to drop below 0 degrees Celsius or when there is an amber weather warning.
The shelter is also known as SWEP (which stands for Severe Weather Emergency Protocols). It provides shelter for rough sleepers in the city, referred through our street outreach team and accommodation is made available to meet demand.
If you are concerned about someone who is sleeping rough, contact Streetlink with the details and the information will be passed on to an outreach worker.
It is 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.
You can find more information about support for people sleeping rough in Brighton & Hove on our How we help rough sleepers page.
SWEP is only available when the temperature is predicted to drop below 0 degrees Celsius or there is an amber weather warning. Brighton & Hove City Council has one of the lowest triggers for opening SWEP provision in the country.
Yes, shelter is available to anyone rough sleeping referred through the street outreach team. There isn’t a limit on numbers or any requirement for a local connection as the purpose is to keep people safe during extreme weather.
Additional venues are opened if this happens, people will be helped with where to go on arrival at the shelter. The SWEP system is set up to allow for all those who need shelter as an emergency measure.
During the Covid pandemic, all SWEP accommodation is self-contained. Everyone has their own room.
People will be provided with a meal, hot drinks and snacks.
Yes.
SWEP accommodation is open from 7pm to 7am.
If you are concerned about someone who is rough sleeping, contact Streetlink with the details and the information will be passed on to an outreach worker.
You can also support local charities helping people who are rough sleeping by making a donation to the Make Change Count page on the Just Giving website.
If you are concerned about anyone rough sleeping, contact Streetlink with their details and the information will be passed on to an outreach worker.
Outreach workers go out to look for anyone who is known to be on the streets. Sometimes people choose to stay outside and not come into the shelter.
An outreach worker is also based at SWEP to help co-ordinate those arriving.
We make every effort to help everyone who comes to SWEP. Occasionally, someone’s behaviour is a risk to themselves or others. The police are notified when we can’t let someone in or have to ask them to leave for safety reasons.
The council provides a wide range of services and support for people who are rough sleeping. In recent years, new services have been introduced and existing services have been expanded to tackle the pressures on the city.
We work closely with partners to provide help and support across Brighton & Hove. Regular monitoring is also carried out to understand the ongoing situation. An overview of key support services is on our 'How we help rough sleepers' page.
SWEP is an emergency shelter to keep people safe when the weather is severe.
A key trigger for opening the shelter is when a 'feels like 0 degrees' temperature is forecast by the Met Office and also takes into account windchill.