Charity boss fears homeless may die as snow hits

As an amber weather warning for heavy snow is in place, a homelessness charity founder fears rough sleepers may potentially die in Birmingham, despite the icy conditions triggering the city's emergency protocol (SWEP).

Ben Rafiqi said that since the closure of city centre hostel Washington Court in 2024, directing people to get support is difficult.

"There isn't actually a physical place in the city centre where people can go, or you can take them so they can refer themselves," he explained.

A city council spokesperson said it had always been "seen to ensure there was additional emergency capacity" for rough sleepers.

Before its closure the Court, close to The Cube, offered a place to stay for more than 100 homeless people, who were also offered help with finance, addictions, health and housing options.

It was open to all, without the need for a referral from a third party organisation, Rafiqi explained.

The Bromsgrove resident is the co-founder of Let's Feed Brum and Tabor House, a night shelter in the Digbeth area of the city.

"In the past... when you saw anyone on the street, you could say, 'Walk over to Washington Court', or put them in a taxi and send them there," he said.

"That does not exist now."

Councils offer free emergency accommodation under the SWEP arrangement, which is activated when temperatures are set to fall below zero for at least three nights in a row.

In Birmingham however, they must be registered to take advantage of the emergency arrangements.

"If they can't make it in time [to register], they might get left out," he said.

"Now there is no immediate place they can go at 9 o'clock at night, so you're stuck if you find yourself freezing in that situation," Rafiqi explained.

"In the past anybody could be referred and then they would go in and they'd be safe," he added.

"I think it's really bad and I'm scared that we're going to have some deaths over the winter, because there are people being excluded."

The city council said anyone worried about those at risk of sleeping rough should report their concerns to its homelessness support service, Streetlink.

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