EHDC’s Housing Team Offers A Warm Place to Stay to All Rough Sleepers

As the ‘Beast from the East’ hit the south last week, East Hampshire District Council was working tirelessly through the conditions to ensure all rough sleepers were offered accommodation in the freezing temperatures and snowy conditions. 

Temperatures dropped to -6C in parts of the district and EHDC’s Housing Team was committed to making sure every rough sleeper spotted across the district was offered a warm place to stay.

As part of the SWEP (Severe Weather Emergency Protocol), EHDC provided homeless people with bed and breakfast accommodation throughout the cold period and will continue, with the support of Two Saints – a charity which is supported by EHDC’s chairman Cllr Lynn Evans that manages community support to individuals facing homelessness in the area, to work with the people it helped to secure a longer-term solution to their homelessness.

The Housing Team provided advice and support at all times throughout the adverse weather conditions and even had a designated officer on emergency call to help any residents or rough sleepers in case of any housing emergencies.

Cllr Ingrid Thomas, EHDC’s Portfolio Holder for Neighbourhoods and Housing, has praised EHDC’s Housing Team for its efforts. She said: “The Housing Team, once again, has been doing a sterling job in a difficult time and EHDC is extremely proud that we have been able to offer rough sleepers accommodation in some of the coldest temperatures the district has seen for years.