St Mungo’s issues cold weather warning during freezing temperatures
Leading homelessness charity St Mungo’s is warning of the extreme dangers cold weather presents to people sleeping rough as freezing temperatures continue to sweep the country. The Met office have issued a cold weather warning alert, which has prompted many councils to activate their emergency response. This is designed to help people who are street homeless stay safe during extreme weather. Known as ‘Severe Weather Emergency Protocol (SWEP)’ the plans see increased outreach shifts and more accommodation made available, with the aim of ensuing nobody has to sleep on the streets during such extreme conditions. SWEP has been activated in the following areas where St Mungo’s operates: Across London Oxford Reading Bristol In London the provision is reviewed daily. In all other areas SWEP will be active until at least Wednesday 8 February and then reviewed on a daily basis. 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 overnight. Hannah Faulkner, Head of Rough Sleeping Services 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. Find out more here – https://thestreetlink.org.uk/ For further updates on the severe weather provision follow St Mungo’s Twitter account – @StMungos
The Cost of Living Crisis is having a devastating impact, says St Mungo’s as new rough sleeping figures are released
Leading homelessness charity St Mungo’s say the cost of living crisis has shown its impact, as new figures show more people are hitting the streets in London, as they struggle to cover the cost of their tenancies. New data released today (31 January 2023) by the Combined Homelessness and Information Network (CHAIN) shows that between October and December last year 3570 people were seen sleeping rough in London. This is a 21% increase on the same period in October-December 2021. The data shows that between October and December: New rough sleepers now account for 48% of all people sleeping rough The number of new people seen on the streets has increased by 29%; from 1314 to 1700 on the same period the year before. Emma Haddad, Chief Executive of St Mungo’s said: “As we expected, the number of people sleeping rough has increased yet again which is exceptionally concerning. “It is clear that the cost of living crisis is having a devastating impact, with people struggling to cover the costs of their tenancy, especially in the capital. “These latest figures once again show just how urgent the situation is. “We are asking the Government to raise local housing allowance and urgently legislate the Renters’ Reform Bill, as well as include the most vulnerable in the cost of living support packages. “St Mungo’s will continue to do everything we can to prevent street homelessness, and support those who have ended up sleeping rough to spend as little time as possible on the streets.” CHAIN is commissioned and funded by the Greater London Authority (GLA) and managed by Homeless Link. Anyone concerned about someone sleeping rough should contact StreetLink via https://thestreetlink.org.uk/
St Mungo’s issues cold weather warning as temperatures plummet this New Year
Leading homelessness charity St Mungo’s is warning of the extreme dangers cold weather presents to people sleeping rough as freezing temperature sweep the country. For the first time this year, today (Monday 16 January), the Met office have issued a cold weather warning alert, which has prompted many councils to activate their emergency response. This is designed to help people who are street homeless stay safe during extreme weather. Known as ‘Severe Weather Emergency Protocol (SWEP)’ the plans see increased outreach shifts and more accommodation made available, with the aim of ensuing nobody has to sleep on the streets during such extreme conditions. SWEP has been activated in the following areas where St Mungo’s operates: Across London Oxford Reading Bristol Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole In London the provision is reviewed daily. In all other areas SWEP will be active until at least Wednesday 18 January and then reviewed on a daily basis. In Bristol and Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole provision will run until at least Friday 20 January when it will be reviewed again. 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 overnight. Hannah Faulkner, Head of Rough Sleeping Services at St Mungo’s said: “The temperatures have plummeted today and they look to continue throughout this week. 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. Find out more here – https://thestreetlink.org.uk/ For further updates on the severe weather provision follow St Mungo’s Twitter account – @StMungos
“Sleeping rough is dangerous all year round, but freezing temperatures can kill” – St Mungo’s issues cold weather warning
Leading homelessness charity St Mungo’s is warning of the danger cold weather presents to people sleeping rough as freezing temperature sweep the country. Today (Wednesday 7 December), the Met Office has announced weather warnings due to the low temperatures, which has prompted many councils to activate their emergency response. This is designed to help people who are street homeless stay safe during extreme weather. Known as ‘Severe Weather Emergency Protocol (SWEP)’ the plans see increased outreach shifts and more accommodation made available, with the aim of ensuing nobody has to sleep on the streets during such extreme conditions. SWEP has been activated in the following areas where St Mungo’s operates: Across London Oxford Reading Bristol Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole In all areas SWEP will be active until at least Monday 12 December. In Bristol provision will run until at least Friday 9 December when it will be reviewed. If members of the public are concerned about anyone sleeping outside they are urged to contact StreetLink via its app which connects people sleeping rough with their local outreach team. In emergency situations when a person’s health or safety is at immediate risk, members of the public should call 999. 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 overnight. Hannah Faulkner, Head of Rough Sleeping Services at St Mungo’s said: “We know that sleeping rough is dangerous all year round, but freezing temperatures can pose a risk to life. “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. “St Mungo’s is here, with our outreach team working throughout the year to provide support to those who are sleeping rough. When the severe weather response is activated during periods of extreme weather, our team works around the clock to ensure that people are brought into the safe and warm. “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. Find out more here – https://thestreetlink.org.uk/ For further updates on the severe weather provision follow St Mungo’s Twitter account – @StMungos
St Mungo’s hosts Mayor as services prepare for cold weather
Leading homelessness charity St Mungo’s hosted the Mayor of London at one of its services today, as staff prepare to support more people sleeping rough during the cold winter weather. Sadiq Khan was able to see first-hand the emergency accommodation people will be offered by the charity when the temperatures plummet. Mr Khan was visiting St Mungo’s ‘No Second Night Out’ Hub in Waterloo, where people sleeping rough are housed temporarily while being assessed for suitable accommodation. It is one of many homelessness services across London funded by the Mayor. The Hub also provides extra accommodation for people sleeping rough, when the Severe Weather Emergency Protocol (SWEP) is activated by the local authorities. SWEP is an emergency response to prevent homeless people from dying or developing serious health conditions in extreme weather. The cold weather hits as statistics show the numbers of people sleeping rough in London has increased by 24% in the last year, according to the latest quarterly figures from the Combined Homelessness and Information Network (CHAIN). The cost of living crisis is also expected to put further pressure on homeless services. Mr Khan met with St Mungo’s clients currently living at the service, and was given a tour of the Hub, including one of the bedrooms prepared for the emergency response, and also the nurse’s room where clients are able to access medical help. St Mungo’s Director of Rough Sleeping, Petra Salva OBE said “Our teams are out in the streets of London 365 days of the year and see first had the damage and harm sleeping rough sleeping causes to people. “It was a pleasure to show the Mayor of London round one of our hubs today. The services we provide, many of which are funded by the Mayor’s office, offer a vital lifeline and direct help to get people off the streets as quickly as possible. “We are acutely aware of the increased dangers people sleeping rough face, which will increase as the temperatures fall, and the cost of living crisis is likely to force more people onto the streets this winter. “But, with our partners in local authorities and the GLA, our teams will continue to work tirelessly to make every night someone’s last on the streets.”
St Mungo’s responds to homeless death statistics
Leading homelessness charity St Mungo’s has responded to new data released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS), showing that an estimated 741 people experiencing homelessness died in 2021. This represents an 8% rise on the previous year when an estimated 688 people lost their lives and takes the number up to almost pre-pandemic levels. The data covers England and Wales. St Mungo’s Chief Executive Emma Haddad said: “Every single death of a person experiencing homelessness is an absolute tragedy. Each one these people was someone’s child, sister or brother – all with their own hopes and dreams. “Health and homelessness are inextricably linked and it is an awful reality that sleeping rough causes chronic illness and can lead to premature death, with the average age of death for someone living on the streets being around 30 years earlier than the general population. “The Government’s recently published Rough Sleeping Strategy has a strong focus on prevention and tackling the root cause of homelessness. “Today’s data shows yet again why it is so important we implement this to prevent people from ending up on our streets in the first place, especially as winter approaches, the current cost of living crisis worsens, and more people are facing losing their homes. “St Mungo’s will continue to do everything we can to prevent street homelessness, and support those who have ended up sleeping rough to spend as little time as possible on the streets.” Today’s data shows between 1 January and 31 December 2021: Almost two in five deaths of homeless people were related to drug poisoning in 2021 (259 estimated deaths) Of the total number 99 people ended their own life There were estimated to have been 26 deaths involving coronavirus, twice the number estimated in 2020 London had the highest numbers of deaths registered in 2021, with 154 people dying in the capital The mean age of death of people who were homeless is much lower than the general population being 45.4 for men and 43.2 for women. In this data someone is defined as homeless if they have been sleeping rough or using emergency or temporary accommodation at or around the time of death. The statistics are based on the year of death registration – because of death registration delays, around half of these deaths occurred in previous years.
St Mungo’s responds to Autumn Statement
Leading homelessness charity St Mungo’s has responded to the Government’s autumn statement announced today (17 November 2022). Among the measures announced by the Chancellor Jeremy Hunt, the Government pledged: a 10.1% rise in benefits in line with September’s inflation figure from April to raise the benefit cap in line with inflation next year to extend the Household Support Fund for another year support for energy bills to remain in place, with the cap rising to £3,000 after April 2023, and targeted interventions for households on means-tested benefits, pensioner households and those with disabilities to increase the National Living Wage from £9.50 to £10.42 per hour However, there was no commitment to increasing housing benefit, despite the fact that rents are rising at their fastest levels in 16 years – reducing the availability of affordable housing. Reacting to the statement, St Mungo’s Chief Executive Emma Haddad said: “We welcome the measures announced today aimed at supporting the most vulnerable members of society. “Increasing benefits in line with inflation and raising the benefit cap were both recommendations made by the Kerslake Commission on Homelessness and Rough Sleeping, and will help many of our clients weather the current financial storm. “However we do have concerns that people who are currently employed in low-wage jobs may be put at greater risk as many of the support packages announced will not be accessible to them. And there is no additional help for those facing rising rents. “We know from our clients that things are really difficult right now and many are struggling to pay their bills. There remains the very real threat that the cost of living crisis will push more people into homelessness this winter. “The Government’s Rough Sleeping Strategy’s focus on preventing homelessness is more important now than ever. And St Mungo’s will continue to work tirelessly with our partners in local and national government to stop people becoming homeless, and support those who already have.”
Urgent action needed now says St Mungo’s as latest figures show rough sleeping continues to rise in London
Leading homelessness charity St Mungo’s says urgent action is needed now as new figures show the number of people seen sleeping rough in London continues to rise. New data released today (31 October 2022) by the Combined Homelessness and Information Network (CHAIN) shows that between July and September this year 3,628 people were seen sleeping rough in London. This is an increase of almost a quarter on the same period last year (2,918) and a 21% increase when compared to the previous three months. Of the total number of people seen sleeping rough, more than half (1,844) were doing so for the first time – a rise of 35% on the same period last year. The data also shows that between July and September: 481 people were defined as ‘living on the streets’, an increase of 17% on the previous three months and 13% on the same period last year. 44 of those considered to be living on the streets had not be seen sleeping rough in the previous three months More than three quarters of people (76%) were provided with accommodation before they had to spend a second night sleeping rough And brings the total number of people seen sleeping rough in London between April and the end of September to 5,712. Petra Salva OBE, Director of Rough Sleeping, Westminster and Migrant Services at St Mungo’s, said: “The rising numbers of people sleeping rough should be a wake-up call to everyone – and we are very worried that worse is yet to come. “We are starting to see the serious effects of the deepening cost of living crisis on the streets and in our services, and as we head into the winter it’s very likely that, without help many people who are just about scraping by will no longer be able to manage. “What we need now is immediate action. We are asking the Government to uplift benefits in line with inflation, increase the benefit cap and unfreeze Local Housing Allowance rates. “These latest figures show just how urgent the situation is and more must be done to prevent even more people becoming homeless. “Whatever we face, St Mungo’s specialist outreach teams will be out every day, providing vital help and support. And the fact that more than three out of four people coming to the streets were helped before they had to spend a second night out is testament to the hard work and dedication of outreach and No Second Night Out teams across the capital.” CHAIN is commissioned and funded by the Greater London Authority (GLA) and managed by Homeless Link. Anyone concerned about someone sleeping rough should contact StreetLink via https://thestreetlink.org.uk/
