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<p>In periods of severe weather, Severe Weather Emergency Provision (SWEP) is triggered
and local authorities work closely with charities to provide basic emergency accommodation
to minimise the risk of harm to individuals who are sleeping rough. Local authorities
take a common sense approach to activating SWEP, which may be triggered by extreme
cold, heavy rain, high winds or extreme heat.</p><p>We recognise the additional challenges
that cold weather poses for local authorities in terms of rough sleeping. On 31 October
2018, we launched the Cold Weather Fund, of up to £5 million, for all local authorities
to provide a robust, local response to support rough sleepers off the streets prior
to the impending winter period. Over 160 local authorities were granted funding under
this scheme and funding was made available for over 1,000 additional bed spaces.</p><p>The
Government is committed to reducing homelessness and rough sleeping. No one should
ever have to sleep rough. That is why last summer we published the cross-government
Rough Sleeping Strategy. This sets out an ambitious £100 million package to help people
who sleep rough now, but also puts in place the structures that will end rough sleeping
once and for all. The Government has now committed over £1.2 billion to tackle homelessness
and rough sleeping over the spending review period. In its first year, the Rough Sleeping
Initiative provided over 1,750 new bed spaces and 500 staff.</p><p> </p>
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