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Homeless people get warm spaces as winter bites

Tom CookeCoventry
News imageBBC Councillor Naeem Akhtar stands in Coventry city centre. He is wearing a grey suit jacket, a grey, pink and white striped tie and a white shirt. BBC
City councillor Naeem Akhtar said facilities had been set up for rough sleepers

Plunging temperatures have triggered a city's emergency protocol to help people living on the street to survive.

Coventry City Council's Severe Weather Emergency Protocol (Swep) has led two places to be set up for people to go to, one in Harnall Life House on Harnall Lane West, the second at Steps for Change on Lamb Street.

'We're working with charities and organisations, and the public can refer if they see a rough sleeper, through the street link [officers] or they should call the council customer services,'' city councillor Naeem Akhtar said.

The Met Office is warning people across Coventry and Warwickshire to prepare for ice and snow from today until Friday.

News imageWhite bed sheets and a white duvet are in the rear doorway of a building, which has a red painted wall, black fire escape doors can be seen behind the bedding, there is a small pathway of concrete in front of the doors.
Homeless people on the streets of Coventry have been offered access to a warm space due to the severe weather

Swep is activated when temperatures are forecast to fall below 0C for at least three nights in a row, with overnight lows expected to drop to -6C on Saturday.

The accommodation can be used by people who have no right to claim benefits or housing in the UK or have previously been refused offers of accommodation or other support.

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