Emergency Accommodation for the Homeless

Dacorum’s Severe Weather Emergency Protocol (SWEP) is being activated this week in response to the Met Office forecast of sub-zero overnight temperatures.

The Elms hostel (a partnership between Dacorum Borough Council and DENS) provides somewhere safe, warm and dry to ensure no-one has to sleep out during the coldest nights of the year.

In addition to the 44 single rooms The Elms provide as emergency and short-term accommodation, during these very cold temperatures, mattresses and bedding are laid down in all meeting rooms, turning them into emergency crash pads, so that those who would otherwise be sleeping rough, have a warm bed for the night and a hot meal.

The service is provided at no cost to the individual. DENS staff will then do all they can to find more appropriate emergency accommodation for the person moving forward.

DENS CEO, Wendy Lewington, explained, ‘It’s vital when the temperature is likely to drop this low, that we go above and beyond to ensure that no-one has to sleep out in the cold. For whatever the reason the person is homeless, we don’t judge, our aim is to make sure they are warm, dry and safe.’

SWEP will operate from the Elms between 8.00pm and 8.00am until at least the morning of Sunday 27th. You can check the SWEP status on a daily basis by contacting The Elms on 01442 800131.

Follow DENS Facebook page and visit their website, www.dens.org.uk, for regular updates and for information on DENS other integrated services, such as the Foodbank, Day Centre, Warehouse, Open Space and Social Enterprse projects.