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We recognise there is a rough sleeping presence within the district. One of the Government’s commitments is to help people off the streets as no one should have to spend a second night out.
Rough sleeping is the most extreme and visible form of homelessness, and many people in this situation are not eligible for housing assistance under homelessness legislation.
We are therefore committed to working with partners to link rough sleepers with the services that can help them find a way off the streets and into settled housing.
If you are worried about a person sleeping rough, please contact us:
Porchlight is a Kent-based charity helping vulnerable and homeless people access housing and other support services.
If you are homeless, in temporary accommodation, sofa surfing, facing eviction or know anyone who is, please call the homelessness referral line, weekdays 10am to 12pm and 2pm to 4pm:
Severe Weather Emergency Protocol (SWEP) for rough sleepers
The Severe Weather Emergency Protocol (SWEP) is a process we put into place to protect people at risk of dying on the streets during extreme hot or cold weather.
Rough sleepers are particularly vulnerable to harm during these periods and we must do all we can to keep them safe.
SWEP is put in place to protect people sleeping rough from life‑threatening weather conditions. It is not designed to operate all year round, but to prevent serious harm or death during periods of extreme hot or cold weather.
When SWEP is triggered, we act quickly to offer safe accommodation to anyone sleeping rough who may be at risk during severe hot or cold weather.
We activate SWEP when:
night‑time temperatures are forecast to be 0°C or below, or
other severe weather conditions (such as heavy snow, strong winds or freezing rain) are predicted.
During cold weather, we check the Dover forecast every day using the Met Office website.
When SWEP is triggered:
we notify our voluntary and statutory partners with details of who to contact if they identify any rough sleepers
our out‑of‑hours service is also informed.
SWEP is different from normal homelessness rules.
Rough sleepers do not have to prove eligibility for help, for example benefit entitlement, priority need or local connection.
A person will be offered help if they:
are at risk if they continue sleeping outside
have nowhere safe and warm to stay (cars, sheds and garages do not count as indoors)
agree to accept the support offered by us.
Some people who sleep rough may feel wary of services and will be less likely to engage. However, extreme cold can be life‑threatening. If someone repeatedly refuses help, we may need to refer them to other services, such as mental health support, to ensure they stay safe.
If a rough sleeper meets the above criteria, they will be offered emergency accommodation for the duration of the severe weather.
rough sleepers can contact our service on 01304 821199 to arrange emergency accommodation bookings.
Accommodation will be confirmed before midday on a day-to-day basis.
Everyone placed into SWEP accommodation will be referred to Porchlight or another suitable service for ongoing support.
We review the weather forecast daily. Once the minimum temperature is predicted to rise above 0°C, SWEP ends and emergency accommodation stops.
Rough sleepers will then be offered housing options advice to help deal with their longer term issue of homelessness.
The cost of providing emergency housing during SWEP is covered by existing council resources.
We record the following information to help understand and monitor the extent of rough sleeping in the district:
the number and type of rough sleeper households using SWEP
how many nights they stayed
the cost of emergency accommodation per night for each rough sleeper.
SWEP is reviewed by the housing options manager on an annual basis. This is carried out in consultation with our partner organisations working with rough sleepers.
Although rare, if any incidents of anti-social or unacceptable behaviour are shown during SWEP, the housing options manager will review the assistance being provided to see if there are any alternative ways to prevent rough sleeping during the severe weather while at the same time managing the risks.
