00:00Over the last few days, we've seen temperatures dip below freezing in Kent, with some areas seeing snow and ice.
00:06With that, more homelessness support becomes available under Medway Council's Severe Weather Emergency Protocol, or SWEP.
00:12Every year, Medway Housing Services will operate what's effectively our winter shelter.
00:19It's funded with government grants, so it's not something we can afford to operate all year round.
00:24Obviously, we'd love to. Ultimately, we want to eradicate homelessness so that we don't need to.
00:30But at the moment, that's what the protocol is.
00:33It brings people out on the streets, vulnerable people that are rough sleeping inside during the really cold temperatures.
00:40We've looked at the information about the people that we've supported in the past,
00:44and we found that those with support needs surrounding drug and alcohol use have been the people that have come into the shelter.
00:53So we've looked this year to increasing the provision of support that's available for them.
00:59Now, that is not just coming in and talking about it.
01:03That's ongoing support so that if they are still in a situation where they are rough sleeping at the end of the period,
01:11the 31st of March, there'll be personal plans in place for each of those people with a view to effectively helping them with the support needs
01:18and hoping to get them off the streets for the future so that it's not something that is a recurring problem.
01:26Here in Medway, it experiences one of the highest levels of homelessness in the entire county.
01:32And I'm stood just here now on Gillingham High Street, and I'm freezing cold.
01:35You know, I'm wrapped up. It's the middle of the day.
01:37Can you imagine what it's like for those who have to stay out here on an evening?
01:39In 2026, we shouldn't have homelessness.
01:42I think there's more support needed all year round, not just winter.
01:46Obviously, winter is where it's highlighted because it's brusquely cold outside,
01:50and then we're cold just walking from A to B, whereas these guys are sleeping out there all year round.
01:54I don't think there's enough provisions at all in any area for homelessness.
01:59So the severe weather emergency protocol is on the third consecutive night of it being zero degrees is when they open the shelters.
02:07Medway Council are pretty good at opening it up on predicted.
02:10So they don't do the first three days.
02:13They just go straight to opening, which we are fortunate in Medway for that.
02:18The problem with having it open is great.
02:21The problem with getting people in is harder.
02:23So you have to ring out of hours or you have to ring the daytime.
02:27If you ring at certain parts during the day, you have to meet a certain amount of criteria.
02:32They need to make sure that they are homeless.
02:34It can happen to anybody.
02:35We're all three paychecks away from being in that position.
02:38Some advice to support those experiencing homelessness year round includes dropping off a hot drink or meal
02:43or offering to help with calls to local support services like those included in this report.
02:48Chloe Brewster for KMTV in Medway.
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