Homelessness charity deploys extra staff in icy weather (From Watford Observer)
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Homelessness charity Watford New Hope Trust deploys extra staff in icy weather
12:10pm Friday 10th February 2012 in News
A Watford homelessness charity says it has received an increase in calls from residents concerned about those sleeping rough in the town during the cold weather.
Watford New Hope Trust has dealt with an influx of calls this week in relation to a number of the town’s homeless.
The charity’s services director Pete Belfield explained how additional staff are deployed in times of severely cold weather to reach out to rough sleepers.
He said: “When the temperature drops below zero for three consecutive nights, Watford’s ‘Severe Weather Emergency Protocol’ (SWEP) comes into operation.
“Additional staff are employed by WNHT to set up and manage six additional beds in the communal areas of our night shelter.
“Also, our outreach team scours the streets in search of any rough sleepers, inviting them to sleep in the warm wherever possible. In practice, this means that there should be no rough sleepers on Watford’s streets during especially cold weather”.
WNHT is able to run its SWEP programme because of a small grant from Watford Council.
Comments(6)
MORE FUNDING
says...
2:03pm Fri 10 Feb 12
MORE FUNDING
says...
2:12pm Fri 10 Feb 12
Hornets number 12 fan wrote:Homelessness in my few is a growth industry, Where housing benefit and donations from various churches etc etc. keep these charities afloat, but the begging bowl by many charities is pushed in your face ! again and again.
Ironic after this government is actively trying to make countless more disabled sick and unemployed people homeless at this moment! Prepare for a lot more customers New Hope Trust
Roy Stockdill
says...
1:37pm Sun 12 Feb 12
Perhaps we should revive the vagrancy laws and they could be given a bed for the night in a nice, warm police cell!
scarecrow
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5:56pm Mon 13 Feb 12
Doesn't matter if you are unable to get a job, get thrown out of your home, through no fought of your own, or have mental heath issues and are unable to speak up for yourself!
As long as you can sit in your nice warm house, being judgement!
scarecrow
says...
6:11pm Mon 13 Feb 12
Hornets number 12 fan says...
12:20pm Fri 10 Feb 12