Council extends homeless shelter offer

Usually the council’s housing service operates a Severe Weather Emergency Protocol (SWEP) at this time of year to provide accommodation to anyone who is street homeless.
But this only applies when the temperature is predicted to fall to zero degrees or below, for three consecutive nights.
This year, the restrictions will not apply - at least until the end of the month.
West Berkshire's Executive Councillor for housing, Roger Croft (Con, Thatcham South and Crookham) said: "This means that anyone who is street homeless can access emergency accommodation regardless of the temperature.
“This means that there is no need for any individual to be sleeping rough in West Berkshire during January.”
In August it emerged that the number of people classified as homeless in West Berkshire leapt from five to 61, representing a rate increase over three years of 1,120 per cent, according to Data experts SSentif, who compiled the data.
According to the figures, West Berkshire has the third highest increase in homelessness in England since 2009; behind only Maidstone, Kent, and Broxbourne, Hertfordshire.
Under the new council strategy, the provision of shelter is usually at a Two Saints hostel and is subject to risk assessment.
However, if the risk posed by an individual is too high for Two Saints, the housing service would work to find an alternative placement.
If an individual is not from West Berkshire, emergency accommodation would be provided initially and the council would then work with the individual to reconnect them to the local authority where they do have a local connection.
SWEP accommodation can be accessed by a direct approach to Two Saints 01329 234600 or by contacting the Housing Service on 01635 42400