The council has outlined the emergency support available to homeless people if temperatures fall below freezing.

Brighton and Hove City Council will initiate the Severe Weather Emergency Protocol (SWEP) when it is forecast to feel like below 0C or if there’s an amber weather warning in place.

The majority of the accommodation available under the scheme are single or double rooms.

When the emergency protocol is triggered, outreach teams from Change Grow Live, a charity which supports homeless people, will work in partnership with the council to make rough sleepers known to the council and endeavour to get them into accommodation.

Food will also be given to homeless people in the accommodation and those who are new to being homeless will be assessed and supported.

The SWEP will operate between November 1 and March 31 when triggered by the weather.

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People concerned about those rough sleeping should report their worries through Streetlink, a service which connects homeless people with local support.

They will then be contacted by the council's street outreach service, provided by Change Grow Live, to offer them support or housing assistance.

Councillor Paul Nann, the council’s lead member for homelessness, said: “We believe it is everyone’s right to have somewhere decent to live, and we want to help everyone sleeping on the streets into safe, secure accommodation.

“The national housing crisis has a serious impact in Brighton and Hove, with the city’s street services working with about 10 new people sleeping rough every week.

“Our SWEP accommodation is a vital service to keep people safe and warm through the winter and link them up with the support to move them from the streets. It’s why we have one of the lowest triggers in the country for opening the accommodation.

“If you are worried about anyone sleeping rough this winter, please let us know by contacting Streetlink so we can provide them with the support they need.”