Open Northampton's emergency weather shelter to help homeless escape heatwave, says charity

A Northampton homelessness charity is calling for the town's emergency shelter to help rough sleepers escape the heat.

Northampton has been hit by sweltering temperatures of up to 33 degrees celsius this week, with yellow weather warnings in place since Monday.

But Stan Robinson - the organiser of homelessness support charity Project 16:15 - says the heat has become unbearable for people living on the town's streets.

After days of handing out dozens of water bottles to exhausted and dehydrated men and women, Stan is calling on Northampton's Single Homelessness Forum to use its Severe Weather Emergency Protocol (SWEP) and let rough sleepers to take shelter at Oasis House.

He said in a video posted online yesterday (August 11): "It's nice if you've got the luxuries of home and plenty of running water. But for these guys out here, it's horrendous. They're dry, they're hot, and they just need water."

The SWEP protocol - as listed on the borough council's website - is currently only used when overnight temperatures are forecasted to fall to zero degrees Celcius or below for three consecutive days.

"This is extreme weather," said Stan. "This is SWEP weather. You've got to get these guys out of this weather, out of this sun and into a place where they can get shade and water. But it doesn't happen.

"It's just another thing I believe is missing in the care for those we class as vulnerable people living in our streets."

Northampton Borough Council - a member of the town's Single Homelessness Forum - has been contacted for a comment.

Thunderstorms are expected to strike Northampton this afternoon (August 12) and are forecast every day for the rest of this week.

Stan says Project 16:15 has handed out hundreds of bottles of water this week to help battle the heat.

The charity provides free meals, company and advice to Northampton's homeless and rough sleepers seven days a week.