Emergency housing protocols have been activated as a result of the frosty temperatures being felt across Dorset.

Dorset Council’s Severe Weather Emergency Protocol (SWEP) came into effect on Tuesday, December 6 as a result of the cold weather being forecast for the region.

As a result the local authority is working with charitable partners to ‘make offers’ to those they know are rough sleeping in an effort to proactively provide them with accommodation.

Councillor Graham Carr-Jones, portfolio holder for housing and community safety, said five people were successfully provided with accommodation on the first day the SWEP came into force. He added that he hoped more would take up the offer but that ‘unfortunately’ some do not.

Residents across the council area are being asked to call 999 if they know someone under 18 who is sleeping rough, in immediate risk or needs urgent care.

Cllr Graham Carr-Jones, portfolio holder for housing and community safety, said: “The guidance for SWEP is followed by all Local Authorities and is issued annually by Homeless Link. The trigger is met in the winter when temperatures are expected to be zero or below, or feels like those temperatures, for three consecutive days. 

“The council liaises and works with partners such as Julian House and The Lantern Trust, to go out and make offers to those who we know are rough sleeping. This is very proactive work. There is a physical and actual search for rough sleepers on the streets to make an offer of temporary accommodation for the duration of the cold weather.”

“Some take up the offer, others unfortunately do not. Those who do not are monitored and we do what we can to support them.

“Once a person is placed in temporary accommodation, it is a great opportunity to talk and work with them to consider more longer term housing options. As a result, in the past we have been able to place people in more sustainable accommodation units by this work which otherwise would not have happened.

“Ultimately, we simply want all individuals to be able to secure stable and safe housing and work towards that goal.”