As temperatures are expected to reach record highs on Wednesday and Thursday (with red weather warnings for parts of South Wales), the national homelessness charity, Crisis Cymru, is highlighting the serious risks that extreme heat poses to people experiencing homelessness. 

The intense heat can be dangerous for those who are sleeping rough on our streets as well as for the thousands of people across Wales who are sofa surfing or staying in temporary accommodation, which they are often required to vacate during the day. 

With little access to shelter, shade, water and suncream, the dangers of sunburn, dehydration and heat exhaustion are very real. 

In the excessive heat, the charity is urging local authorities to initiate the Severe Weather Emergency Protocol (SWEP) to help people who are sleeping rough in these scorching temperatures to seek life-saving shelter. 

The charity says that members of the public who are concerned about people experiencing homelessness in these temperatures can help by offering the person water, an umbrella for shade, or sun cream. They can also ask the person if they would like to be connected to Streetlink (www.streetlink.org.uk) for assistance, or call 999 if the person is in immediate danger. For further advice, members of the public can also visit www.crisis.org.uk/get-help/. 

Crisis Cymru has a base in Swansea, where it provides direct support to people at risk of or experiencing homelessness. Amidst these weather conditions, the centre is providing warm weather packs to its members, including bottled water, wet wipes and sun cream. 

Ashella Lewis, Director at the South Wales Skylight said: “These extreme weather warnings come with immense dangers for our members.  

“Experiencing homelessness is traumatic at any time of the year, but in these searing temperatures, our members face additional, even life-threatening challenges. We anticipate that we will see lots of people coming through our doors exhausted and thirsty from the heat.  

“It’s so important to be able to provide our members with the essentials for this hot weather – things like suncream, sun hats and water. However, we can only do so through the generosity of our supporters and we are immensely grateful to anyone who can help at this difficult time.” 

If you would like to help by donating items to the South Wales Skylight, you can check out their Amazon summer wish list and arrange for items to be sent to: Crisis South Wales Skylight, 163 St Helen’s Road, Swansea, SA1 4DQ. 

ENDS 

Notes to Editor 

Crisis Cymru is the national charity dedicated to ending homelessness. The charity provides direct support to people at risk of or experiencing homelessness, researches into the causes of homelessness and campaigns for the systemic changes needed to end it. 

For more information on the work of Crisis Cymru, please visit: Our work in Wales | Crisis UK | Together we will end homelessness 

To arrange an interview with Crisis Cymru, please contact the media team on 020 7426 3880 or email media@crisis.org.uk