The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, and London Councils have activated the Severe Weather Emergency Protocol (SWEP) to safeguard homeless individuals as temperatures in the city are

expected to plummet to 0°C tonight. This marks the first activation of SWEP for the 2024/25 winter, ensuring that additional emergency accommodations are made available for rough sleepers facing potentially life-threatening conditions.

SWEP is a collaborative effort between the Mayor, London Councils, and homelessness charities. It ensures that all London boroughs open extra emergency shelters during freezing conditions. Under the ‘In for Good’ principle, no one using these shelters will be asked to leave without a tailored support plan to help end their rough sleeping, regardless of temperature changes. This coordinated approach reinforces the city’s commitment to tackling homelessness effectively.

Last winter, SWEP was activated for 16 nights, while in 2022, it operated for 28 nights. During the 2023/24 SWEP activations, approximately 1,400 individuals received emergency accommodation through partnerships between local councils and the Greater London Authority (GLA).

The number of rough sleepers in London continues to climb. Recent figures from City Hall show a 20% increase in new rough sleepers during 2023/24 compared to the same period the previous year. Factors such as previous cuts to essential services and a national slowdown in housebuilding have exacerbated the crisis.

In response to this growing challenge, the Mayor has significantly increased funding for homelessness support. City Hall’s rough sleeping budget for 2023/24 was £36.3 million, over four times the £8.45 million allocated annually when Sadiq Khan first took office in 2016. Since then, around 17,600 people have been helped off the streets, with 75% staying off the streets for good.

Recent initiatives include:

£4.8 million in funding to support former rough sleepers in 3,500 properties across London.

The launch of the ‘Homes off the Streets’ initiative, building on the successful Clearing House scheme, to provide stable housing solutions for rough sleepers.

Looking ahead, the Mayor aims to work closely with the Government, homelessness organizations, and experts to establish a shared mission to end rough sleeping by 2030. A detailed action plan, set to be launched next year, will outline funding needs and strategies for achieving this goal.

However, Sadiq has warned of potential challenges ahead. “The scale of the crisis, coupled with years of underinvestment in housing and support, means things may worsen this winter before they improve,” he said. Nonetheless, he remains optimistic, emphasizing that with strong leadership, adequate resources, and a cohesive strategy, the long-term goal of ending rough sleeping in London is achievable.

The activation of SWEP underscores the Mayor’s commitment to protecting London’s most vulnerable residents. By working together, councils, charities, and City Hall continue to demonstrate a united front in addressing the ongoing rough sleeping crisis and ensuring no one is left behind in freezing conditions. Photo by DAVID HOLT from London, England, Wikimedia commons.