Help will be available to homeless people in Bradford who are forced to sleep on the streets this winter as temperatures are set to plummet this week.
Tomorrow and Wednesday is predicted to see the coldest weather so far this winter, with overnight lows of minus 5C (23F) possible, followed by daytime highs of only 2C to 5C (36F to 41F) across many areas.
There is also the chance of sleet or snow. But those temperatures may trigger the start of the Cold Weather Provision.
Last winter, the scheme, which aims to prevent rough-sleepers from being outside on freezing nights, had one of its busiest years because of the cold snap that went into March.
The provision, a partnership between Bradford Council and charities including Hope Housing, is triggered when temperatures drop below zero from October 1 to April but it has not been activated so far.
Hostels and hosting projects offer bed spaces for rough sleepers on top of the services they already operate.
A referral desk is open at Bradford Day Shelter between 2pm and 4pm when the provision is open and three housing support services are on hand to offer assistance in finding more permanent accommodation.
Last year, 125 homeless people were helped off the streets. Adam Clark, of Hope Housing, who is chairman of the Cold Weather Provision partnership, said: “The hard work of services last year meant that many people were prevented from sleeping rough and 125 people moved away from a life on the streets. It is hard to know how much the provision will be open because of being dependent on the temperature but a lot of hard work has gone in over the summer so that we can provide places for rough sleepers on freezing nights.
“December onwards, especially January and February, are our busiest times and this year again we are planning to be busy. We are currently working to try to develop new things to make as many bed spaces as possible available. We are not using Bed & Breakfast accommodation this year, that is not an option, it could be used in the short-term while another service is created.
“It is just not very stable type of accommodation. The Council is looking at a new service to come through and it is going to provide a bit of money to do that, with 15 bed spaces and that is still in the process at the moment. There were problems last year with B&Bs by putting people in unsupported environments and we are finding a better solution for them.”
The Cold Weather Provision is open on any evening the temperature is predicted to be zero or below.
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