Emergency beds for people sleeping rough in Oxford will be open tonight.

Oxford City Council has announced it has used its discretion to activate the severe weather emergency protocol (SWEP) due to the Met Office forecasts of sub-zero ‘feels like’ temperatures and the potential for snow in the early hours of the morning.

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This means that beds will be open for anyone who wants to come inside tonight.

The council will decide whether to extend or close SWEP tomorrow morning.

Councillor Linda Smith, deputy leader and Cabinet member for leisure and housing, said: “The outreach team (OxSPOT) and day services are telling people experiencing or at risk of rough sleeping that emergency beds are available tonight."

"If you’re concerned about somebody sleeping rough please contact OxSPOT on 01865 243229 or email Outreach.Oxford@mungos.org.

"OxSPOT is not an emergency service and will follow up all calls or emails as quickly as possible.”

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SWEP is emergency accommodation for anyone experiencing rough sleeping – including people who have no local connection to Oxford, no right to claim benefits or housing in the UK or who have refused offers of accommodation and support.

In previous years people would have to present at O’Hanlon House between 9pm and 9.30pm before they knew where their bed for the night was.

The outreach and assessment team, OxSPOT, is now allocating SWEP spaces to people during the day and notifying them where and when they need to go. 

People who have not been allocated a SWEP space in advance can present at O'Hanlon House between 11 pm and midnight.

Free kennels are available for anyone with a dog or dogs who wants to use a SWEP bed.

These must be arranged with OxSPOT in advance and are not available on the night.

Detailed information about SWEP is at oxford.gov.uk/swep.