Imagine sleeping outside in the crackling and freezing cold during the current arctic explosions. Now imagine that you are doing this when you are already in poor health and weakness.
This is a reality for many people who sleep outside, and as extreme cold sweeps the country, emergency measures are being taken to keep those with nowhere to stay safe.
“It’s not safe for anyone to sleep on the street, and last year 741 people died while homeless,” says Fiona Colli, director of social change at Homeless Link, a national charity for organizations that work directly with people affected by homelessness. England I.
“We would prefer that no one sleeps outside all year round, but this is especially dangerous in severe weather, such as the cold weather we are experiencing right now.”
For many homeless people, a hurricane poses an even greater risk than for the rest of the population. “The health of a homeless person is likely to be much worse than that of the average person of his age,” Ms Colley explains.
“We found that the homeless, whether in physical or mental health, are far less healthy than average.
“You can imagine sleeping outside in this kind of weather, but imagine how much worse it would be if you already had health problems.
“The average age of those who die homeless is more than 40 years old than 70. You can see someone sleeping on the street who looks quite young, but is actually very fragile and vulnerable.”
So what happens when temperatures drop below freezing to protect those at risk?
Severe weather emergency protocols are followed by local authorities. This refers to rooms opened as a shelter for people sleeping outside when there is an increased risk of death due to weather conditions, such as when temperatures are near or below freezing.
As a temporary relief measure during a time of heightened risk, it complements winter shelters and is coordinated by local authorities, while many shelters are independent.
“When we get episodes of extreme weather, local authorities refer to these protocols and execute their contingency plans to get people off the streets.
“Each community will take action to find additional housing to which they can relocate people in such situations. These may be hotels, boarding houses, or hostels run by charities for the homeless, or they may be churches or public spaces made available for this purpose. Maybe because it’s low season, there are places like amusement parks.
“Each local authority will make its own decision, except for London, where it operates as a city. They look at the weather forecast, consider conditions, and decide whether or not to use these logs.
“At times like this, these places open up and the local authorities activate bookings. Then we need to make sure we connect the people who need to find those places with the local authorities.
While it will be known that many people with poor sleep will seek community outreach services, find them and get the support they need, Ms Colley says there will be some people she doesn’t know who may or may not be found. newbies on the road. — and she says it’s vital that the public has a role to play in helping vulnerable homeless people.
Responsible for advising local authorities on severe weather emergency protocol, Homeless Link is a national affiliate with about 900 members nationwide, made up of charities and local services dedicated to ending homelessness.
Ms Colley says about 2,440 people sleep restlessly at night, and freezing temperatures can be extremely dangerous or even deadly for those who sleep outside.
Homeless Link operates StreetLink, a website, mobile app and phone line for England and Wales that allows people to send alerts when they see someone sleeping to connect them with local emergency services.
“The public is very important to help us find people and we really want to encourage them to do their part if they see someone on the street.
“The first thing you can do when you feel like you can is to say hello and see how things are going. I know it can be discouraging at times, but we are all human and these people are in dire need.
“If someone is already unwell and needs help, feel free to call 999 or 111. Outreach services are not emergency services, even if their response time is fast. But this is not an ambulance, and sometimes people need urgent medical attention.”
She says using StreetLink is the best thing people can do to help, as it ensures local response teams are aware of a person sleeping on the street. You can then provide them with support that will help end their homelessness for good, including a temporary shelter in case of inclement weather, if available. To submit a report, visit: www.streetlink.org.uk or download the app and click ‘take action’.
“This could be the start of a journey to end homelessness,” says Ms Colley. “Not only will they get a bed for the night, they will be connected to local support services, charities and supporters who can work with them to try and find something better in the long run. Help them find the stable homes that everyone deserves.”
Organizations like St Mungo’s take to the streets every day helping people with poor sleep and running hostels and shelters.
Petra Salva, director of Rough Sleep at St Mungo’s Hospital, says: “We know Rough sleep is dangerous all year round, but low temperatures can be life-threatening.
“During times of cold and extreme weather, it is important that the public, those affected by homelessness and other support services are aware of the availability of additional housing and support.
“Saint Mungo is already here and our help groups are working all year round to help people who suffer from insomnia.
“Since the severe weather response was activated earlier this week, our teams have been working tirelessly around the clock to provide everyone with a safe and warm place to stay.
“Anyone who is concerned that a person is homeless should contact StreetLink. And as always, when someone is in an emergency, people should dial 999.
Kiran Ramchandani, director of policy and external relations for Crisis, a homeless charity, said: “It is incredibly dangerous to get enough sleep at night at any time of the year, but in this cold it can be deadly.
“No one should ever sleep on the street, but thousands of people across the country now have nowhere to go.
“We are calling on communities across England to open their emergency shelters for the winter night as temperatures drop to protect people from this brutal cold weather.
“Homelessness can be an incredibly isolating experience, so even something as simple as asking someone on the street how they are or offering them a hot drink can make a huge difference.
“Talking to someone can also mean getting permission to contact Streetlink on their behalf and put them in touch with homeless services in their area.
“Homelessness is not inevitable and no one should be left alone and cold outside. As part of Crisis at Christmas, we will open three hotels in London for people who would otherwise sleep outside on Christmas Day.
“Through this and our other services across the UK, we provide hot food and socializing and introduce them to our support services throughout the year. For many, this is the first step towards ending homelessness for good.
“We will be here all year round to support the homeless across the country, and we encourage the public to take an active role in supporting the homeless, no matter the weather.”
Source: I News
I’m Raymond Molina, a professional writer and journalist with over 5 years of experience in the media industry. I currently work for 24 News Reporters, where I write for the health section of their news website. In my role, I am responsible for researching and writing stories on current health trends and issues. My articles are often seen as thought-provoking pieces that provide valuable insight into the state of society’s wellbeing.