Oxford City Council Activates Emergency Homeless Protocol Amid Snowfall

Following significant snowfall across Oxfordshire, a local authority has announced its commitment to providing short-term accommodation for rough sleepers during the current icy conditions. Oxford City Council has initiated its Severe Weather Emergency Protocol (SWEP) in collaboration with the homelessness charity St Mungo’s. This measure commenced on Tuesday and is scheduled to continue until Friday, with daily reviews thereafter. This initiative coincides with the closure of multiple schools on Tuesday, after snow fell across various parts of the county. St Mungo’s reported that its outreach teams in Oxford have increased their routine shifts, aiming to ensure that all individuals experiencing homelessness are offered a secure and warm place to shelter. Ellie Alway-Thomas, a service manager at St Mungo’s, stated: “These low temperatures can kill people who are street homeless and it is absolutely right this is treated as an emergency.” She further added: “We will continue to work tirelessly around the clock to ensure that people are brought into the safe and warm.” BBC Weather forecasts sub-zero temperatures overnight in Oxford through Friday. Snow began to fall around 07:00 GMT on Tuesday morning as temperatures sharply dropped. These wintry conditions led to the closure of several schools in Banbury, including Cherry Fields Primary, Longford Park Primary, and The Grange Community Primary. The schools indicated that their decision was based on the hazardous conditions for both staff and pupils within the schools and on adjacent roadways. Snow and ice have impacted various regions across the UK, and the wintry weather system is expected to gradually move southwards. BBC Weather Watchers from throughout the county have submitted images depicting the snowy landscapes. For updates, BBC Oxfordshire can be followed on Facebook, X, or Instagram. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.