‘It’s just about saving lives now’: Here’s how you can really help rough sleepers in the snow
When temperatures plunge to the point where we're told not to leave our homes, it's hard not to think of the homeless people with nowhere to hide from the biting cold
THIS week's biting winds and snow flurries have created a life-or-death emergency for thousands of the nation's most vulnerable people.
The sub-zero conditions and sustained snowfall mean the Beast From the East has posed a grave danger to Britain's rough sleepers, with a 53-year-old homeless man found dead in his tent in Lincolnshire becoming tragic proof of this yesterday.
When temperatures plunge to the point where we're told not to leave our homes, it's hard not to think of the desperate people with nowhere to hide from the biting cold.
And with the most severe storm in years still raging on, homeless charity - which helps members of the public refer rough sleepers to people who can help - has been stunned by the "unprecedented" number of calls.
In fact, yesterday was the busiest day in StreetLink's history, with more calls in one day than there was in the whole of 2013.
StreetLink director Matt Harrison told Sun Online: "In the winter and during severe cold weather we always get higher levels of use. But this week, we've seen record levels.
"As of Sunday night, we had about 20,000 members of the public registered on our website and app, and we were getting around 1,000 alerts a week.
"But from Monday to Thursday this week, we've had 60,000 people registered and 30,000 alerts from the public. Our systems have creaked under the pressure, but we've managed."
How to help someone sleeping rough
If you see a homeless person in need of emergency care, call 999.
Otherwise, get in touch with StreetLink through their , or app, or by calling on 0300 500 0914.
StreetLink passes info from concerned members of the public on to local authorities or charities who look after homeless people, and they will send someone out - normally within a day - to offer them some help.
Founded in December 2012, StreetLink helps rough sleepers anywhere in England and Wales, and should be the first port of call if you see a homeless person who needs help and you're not sure what to do.
Director Matt said: "If you’re worried about a rough sleeper, what you really need to think about is what action you can take to end their homelessness."
Often, recently-homeless people don’t know what help is available to them, which is why connecting them with a charity through StreetLink can be so important.
Should I give money?
Hostels, shelters and day centres won’t ask rough sleepers for money and you can help homeless people find them through the and websites.
Charities add that giving money to homeless people comes down to personal preference, although you could also consider buying them a warm drink or a meal, or asking whether there's anything else they really need.
StreetLink has been helping rough sleepers in England and Wales since it was set up in December 2012, and should be the first port of call if you see a homeless person who needs help and you're not sure what to do.
Director Matt said: "If you’re worried about a rough sleeper, what you really need to think about is what action you can take to end their homelessness."
Saving lives at the shelters
The shelters which take in the rough sleepers referred by SteetLink are also feeling the strain, despite the dedication of the army of volunteers mobilised to deal with the winter emergency.
Mick Clarke is the Chief Executive of Westminster-based , which runs the UK's largest resource centre for homeless people - offering day services as well as helping with medical care and getting rough sleepers off the streets and into jobs.
"The cold weather highlights that our work has started to become about saving lives," Mick told Sun Online.
"The situation has literally become life-threatening, and people are truly desperate to get some warmth and get off the streets."
To counter the extreme cold, day shelters have been staying open overnight, with 500 volunteers stepping up to help The Passage cope with around 200 rough sleepers a day - double the amount they'd usually deal with.
"It's really manic," Mick added. "You've got a double-whammy as well because staff are also battling to get in to work."
Temporary emergency shelters have also been set up by an array of charities across the country, with around 500 extra beds made available for homeless people in London alone.
Deaths from the cold
There's a heartbreaking statistic at the bottom of all this: homeless people die at an average age of 47, over thirty years younger than the typical Brit.
And in this cold weather, the risk to life becomes even graver.
Petra Salva, Director of Outreach Services at homelessness charity, told us: “We will be working day and night to help as many people inside as possible. Rough sleeping is harmful and dangerous but when temperatures drop, lives are at risk.
“Health problems connected to continued exposure to the freezing cold, including hypothermia, exacerbate people's already poor physical and mental health."
Not just a seasonal problem
But the sad truth is that homelessness isn't just a short-term problem, with numbers of rough sleepers in Britain climbing in the past six years.
At last count, officially, there are 4751 people sleeping on the streets in the UK, although the actual figure will be far higher, with many homeless people completely off the government's radar.
Even the official figure represents a 169 per cent increase on the 1,700 rough sleepers recorded in 2010 - although there is no way of knowing the true scale of the epidemic.
Telephone numbers you need to know
If it's an emergency, call 999.
For a referral to a local charity, call StreetLink on 0300 500 0914.
Homeless people can also call Shelter's free helpline on 0808 800 4444.
A spokesperson for , which provides rough sleepers with food, showers, warmth and advice through their day centres, added: "The cold weather exposes the harsh reality faced by those who are worst affected by our ongoing homelessness crisis.
"We know many people want to provide help straight-away when they see someone on the streets, and there’s no harm in asking if someone wants a hot drink or some food.
"But if you are worried about someone sleeping rough in the cold and snow, contact your local homelessness service or Streetlink who have outreach services that can go directly to the person.”
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Giving money isn't the only way you can help the homeless - many charities like St Mungo's, Shelter or The Passage rely on the hard work of volunteers.
The Passage chief executive Mick Clarke says: "People think you have to be rich to be a philanthropist, but you can volunteer with a charity and be a philanthropist with your time.
“People on the streets really do recognise this."
If you are concerned about homelessness, you can find more information, and how to donate or volunteer, on the , , and websites.