Freezing temperatures forced Watford Council to activate emergency measures for the first time this winter as temperatures dropped below freezing last night.
The severe weather emergency protocol (SWEP), described by charity New Hope as a ‘humanitarian response’ to unusually extreme weather, provides shelter to those sleeping rough in the Watford and Three Rivers area.
These beds are operated by New Hope, based at Haven Support Centre in Whippendell Road, and provide up to 66 people with shelter each night.
This is the first time this winter that SWEP has been implemented, but the centre has been operating its SWEP+ Winter Night Shelter since the start of December.
Statistics from Shelter show there are six rough sleepers in Watford in addition to 582 in temporary accommodation - the fifth highest local authority in the East of England out of 47.
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