SWEP is not just for cold weather

When there is extreme weather Trident Reach has confirmed arrangements for offering emergency beds to people experiencing rough sleeping in Birmingham.

Trident Reach activates SWEP (severe weather emergency protocol) on behalf of Birmingham City Council. It is activated whenever there is a yellow weather warning in place from the MET office. As the weather has been extremely hot over the last couple of days we have been providing support for people rough sleeping in Birmingham.

If you are rough sleeping when SWEP is activated, or at any other time of the year, you should either present at SIFA Fireside (48-52 Allcock St, Deritend, Birmingham B9 4DY), or make a StreetLink self-referral. Once you make a self-referral, Trident Reach’s Rough Sleeper Outreach Team will try to find and contact you to provide you with a bed.

If you are a member of the public and you see or know someone who you think is sleeping rough, you should make a referral via StreetLink. The first time you use this website/app, you will need to create an account. This takes approximately 30 seconds and is easy to use. The referral will be sent to Trident Reach’s Rough Sleeper Outreach Team, who will try and find the rough sleeper and provide them with shelter. The team will make more than one attempt to reach them, and you will be kept updated via StreetLink.

If you feel comfortable and feel safe to do so, please offer guidance around shade, water and sunscreen.

If there is someone with an immediate risk to life, 999 should be called. StreetLink is not an emergency service.

Between Trident Reach’s Washington Court, and other accommodation providers in the city, there are plenty of beds available across Birmingham to accommodate rough sleepers.