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Scottish Charity Register No. SC043760

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April – May 2026 : Working together READ ONLINE

RECENT TWEETS

SWEP in action

April 01 2026

Findings from an investigation into how homelessness systems adapt to extreme weather. Research by the Museum of Homelessness

In cases of extreme weather, local authorities are supposed to have measures in place to protect vulnerable people. The Severe Weather Emergency Protocol, aka SWEP, aims to provide life-saving provisions during bouts of dangerous weather to people experiencing homelessness.

In March, the Museum of Homelessness (MoH) released the second edition of its Severe Weather Emergency, an investigative report scrutinising how councils and services adapt to extreme weather – the first research of its kind in the UK.

Currently, SWEP is activated when the temperature drops below freezing. Emergency night shelters and provisions are issued to people sleeping rough and experiencing homelessness.

However, MoH found a common thread running through many councils and services across the UK: homeless people continue to be excluded from life-saving provision.

Among its findings, the report outlined: “90% of activations in the two years investigated were for cold weather only, highlighting a lack of provision for other forms of extreme weather. Very few councils activated SWEP for extreme rain.”

Lord Bird, founder of the Big Issue and cross-bench peer, noted in response to the research that: “2023 and 2024 were both in the top 10 wettest years of the last two centuries.”

Forms of gatekeeping, which deny or complicate people’s access to vital services, was also common practice among homelessness systems during SWEP. The investigation found “42% of responding councils used some kind of verification system as a pre-condition to access SWEP. The use of mental health assessments, risk assessments and triaging procedures is normal.”

Furthermore, the abysmal use of ‘sit-up’ services, an offer of a chair for sleeping sitting up, was found to be in use by 11 councils. Councils also struggle to signpost people to services. Nearly half of all councils involved in the investigation do not even mention SWEP on their website.

On a more positive note, “nearly two thirds of all councils surveyed had created new policies and procedures in relation to extreme weather conditions.” The report noted though that these had yet to be implemented.

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April – May 2026 : Working together

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