Homelessness and sleeping rough

Contents

  1. Overview
  2. Rough sleeping
  3. Severe Weather Emergency Protocol (SWEP)
  4. Local services
  5. Duty to refer - for public authorities

Overview

If you are homeless or feel you are threatened with homelessness, rough sleeping, fleeing domestic abuse or going through a relationship breakdown please contact South Tyneside Council Housing Services:

  • 0800 141 2645 (free phone) - Monday to Thursday 9am to 5pm, and Friday 9am to 4.30pm
  • 0191 456 2093 - out of office hours

We will give free advice and assistance to all eligible households that are homeless, or at risk of homelessness regardless of priority need.

For more information, visit: 

South Tyneside Homes: Homelessness

Rough sleeping

If you see someone sleeping rough, please report this to either: 

Severe Weather Emergency Protocol (SWEP)

Under the Severe Weather Emergency Protocol (SWEP), during periods of extreme cold, housing authorities must provide facilities for rough sleepers. This is to prevent deaths as a result of weather conditions.

South Tyneside Council will activate SWEP between the period of 1 November - 31 March, where the weather is deemed extreme and life threatening. The protocol makes sure that all rough sleepers can have access to shelter during severe weather.

For the period of the SWEP, you can contact Housing Services about accomodation:

  • 0800 141 2645 (freephone) - Monday to Thursday 9am to 5pm, and Friday 9am to 4.30pm
  • 0191 456 2093 - out of office hours

The housing options team will inform the out of hours team of availability of hostels, hotels, or temporary accommodation availability.

For more information, see: 

Severe Weather Emergency Protocol (SWEP) 2023-2024

The SWEP protocol is reviewed annually

Local services

For a list of local services that can help, see:  

Homelessness services

Duty to refer - for public authorities

The 'duty to refer' requires specified public authorities to identify and refer a service user who is homeless or may be threatened with homelessness, to a local housing authority of the service user's choice.

For more information including a list of the public authorities affected, visit GOV.UK: A guide to the duty to refer.

If you are a public authority looking to make a referral, either: