Emergency severe weather plan activated for first time this winter as Mayor and London boroughs protect homeless Londoners

• The Severe Weather Emergency Protocol (SWEP) is activated when temperatures fall to 0°C and ensures additional emergency accommodation is open for people sleeping rough
• The Mayor works in partnership with London Councils on SWEP, which has been activated for the first time this winter
• Londoners urged to contact support services through the Streetlink website
• More than 18,000 people have been helped off the capital’s streets since the Mayor took office
• Last winter London boroughs housed more than 2000 people during SWEP activations 

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan and London Councils have activated the pan-London Severe Weather Emergency Protocol (SWEP) for the first time this year to protect those sleeping rough, with temperatures forecast to fall to 0°C.  

Today, 19^th November, is the first SWEP activation of the winter and means London boroughs across the capital, alongside homelessness charities, will open additional emergency accommodation for people sleeping rough in freezing conditions that could pose a threat to life.

The joined-up approach from the Mayor and London Councils has strengthened support for homeless people in the capital, with all boroughs across the city encouraged to follow the Mayor's 'In for Good' principle, which ensures no one is asked to leave accommodation until an assessment of needs and circumstances has taken place to try to identify a longer term route out of rough sleeping.

Sadiq also funds a pan-London 'overflow' service which provides additional SWEP spaces for those sleeping rough in the capital. SWEP was active for 22 nights in winter 2024/25.

Under the Mayor’s leadership, more than 18,000 people have already been helped off the capital’s streets since 2016, with three quarters staying off the streets for good. Sadiq has delivered record funding to homelessness charities and service providers across the capital, and drastically increased City Hall’s rough sleeping budget - in 2025/26 it is more than five times the £8.45m a year it was when he took office in 2016.

Last winter London boroughs housed over 2000 people across the winter, and as in previous years, councils have been planning for SWEP activation, working collaboratively with other boroughs and services.

In January this year, the Mayor announced £10 million of new funding – the largest single investment to tackle rough sleeping in the history of the London mayoralty – and this is now supported by an additional £17 million from Government. This investment will help to prevent rough sleeping through a 24/7 network of Ending Homelessness Hubs, and will support the refurbishment up to 500 empty homes for people at risk of rough sleeping through an expanded Homes off the Streets programme.

More than 13,000 people were seen rough sleeping by outreach workers in London during 2024/25 - the highest number ever recorded on London’s CHAIN database. London is feeling the long-term consequences of a national housing crisis and local authorities have had their budgets squeezed, forcing them away from preventing homelessness and into crisis management. Sadiq launched his plan of action on rough sleeping earlier this year which sets out how he will work with partners across the system to make the shift towards prevention and end rough sleeping by 2030. The Mayor and London Councils are working in partnership with central government, boroughs and the voluntary and community sector to tackle the crisis, facilitated by the national investment and support needed to help turn things around.

The Mayor is urging Londoners to support his annual winter rough sleeping campaign by contacting support services through StreetLink website if they see someone sleeping rough on the streets(2). Londoners can also donate to TAP London online(3) to support homelessness charity projects. Over £500,000 has been raised via the Mayor's partnership with TAP London since 2017.

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan said: “With temperatures dropping below zero, we have activated the Severe Weather Emergency Protocol for the first time this winter to ensure anyone sleeping rough in freezing conditions is offered emergency accommodation and support to stay off the streets for good.

“Earlier this year, I announced the biggest ever single investment of £10million to tackle homelessness to support those most at risk of sleeping rough. And for the first time ever, a new focus on prevention will allow teams to step in and provide support to Londoners at risk of rough sleeping before they spend a first night on the streets. 

“I am committed to ending rough sleeping by 2030 and providing support to get people off the streets. Helping people to start rebuilding their lives is at the centre of our plan, as we work together to build a safer, fairer London for everyone.”

Cllr Grace Williams, London Councils’ Executive Member for Housing & Regeneration, said: “Rough sleeping is always dangerous, but during severe cold weather it becomes a serious threat to life. Boroughs are working tirelessly to get emergency accommodation ready and to help people come off the streets when temperatures plummet. Together with the Mayor and our voluntary sector partners, we will do everything possible to keep people safe and ensure they receive the support they need.”

Hannah Faulkner, Head of Pan London Rough Sleeping Services and Prevention at St Mungo’s: “As temperatures drop to freezing, the risks for people sleeping rough become increasingly severe. Prolonged exposure to cold and wet conditions can lead to serious health problems such as hypothermia, frostbite, and respiratory illness, and can also worsen existing medical conditions. In some cases, this can be fatal.

“St Mungo’s is ready to respond to this urgent situation. Our teams are working night and day to bring people indoors to safe, warm accommodation and connect them with the essential support they need.”