EMERGENCY support is being provided for people who are sleeping rough in the BCP region with freezing temperatures predicted over the coming nights.

St Mungo’s, in partnership with BCP Council, has today (January 16) activated the area’s severe weather response which is expected to be activated for four nights, but will be under review as the forecast changes.

For the duration of the severe weather response, additional accommodation and support will be made available across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole so that nobody has to sleep on the streets during extreme weather.

This follows a long spell of cold weather in December which saw St Mungo’s running the emergency cold weather response for nearly two weeks, helping more than 80 people who were sleeping rough in the BCP area.

Members of the public are being urged to:

  • Encourage anyone they see rough sleeping in BCP to call 01202 315962 or email B&Pstreetoutreach@mungos.org to speak to the outreach team.
  • Dial 999 if someone needs emergency help.
  • Remember Streetlink is not an emergency service – referrals are not immediate so it’s best to use 01202 315962 when the severe weather response is activated.

Bournemouth Echo:

As well as providing a safe and warm space for the night, St Mungo’s will be working with people individually to help them find a route away from sleeping rough and to plan their next steps towards longer term accommodation.

Andrew Teale, St Mungo’s outreach manager for Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, said: “We know that sleeping rough is dangerous all year round, but freezing temperatures can pose a risk to life. With temperatures due to go below zero degrees overnight we have activated our severe weather response in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole.

“It is essential that the services we work with, members of the public and people experiencing homelessness are all aware that additional accommodation is available for people sleeping rough.”

Councillor Karen Rampton, BCP Council’s member for people and homes, said: “Over the next few days severe weather conditions could really impact the safety and wellbeing of people who are sleeping rough.

“Unfortunately, not everyone takes up our offers of accommodation during this time and so our outreach teams will be stepping up their efforts to actively encourage everyone to come inside, out of the cold.”