Political storm drives questions about safe shelter for homeless

Storm Austen swept across southern England on Friday (23 October), bringing damaging winds and rain. Storm Boelo followed over the weekend, although its fiercest winds were concentrated further north.

Brighton and Hove faced a Met Office yellow wind warning during Austen. For someone sleeping outside, “yellow” is not another word for “safe”.

On Friday morning, I asked a simple question: had Brighton and Hove activated its Severe Weather Emergency Protocol (SWEP)? By Sunday evening, the correspondence available to me still contained no definitive answer.

The council’s Labour cabinet adviser on homelessness, who publicly describes himself as having 20 years’ housing experience, was abroad and referred my question to officers. His absence is not the issue.

Nobody should be expected to work around the clock. But emergency arrangements should not depend on who happens to be checking their inbox. Who was responsible for providing a clear answer?

Meanwhile, down the coast, Eastbourne had already acted. On Thursday (22 October), Eastbourne Borough Council announced SWEP activation because of forecast high winds, providing night shelter and deploying outreach workers to contact at-risk people.

One Sussex council publicly announced its precautions before the storm. In Brighton and Hove, I was still seeking an answer days later.

That does not establish that our council failed to activate SWEP. But it raises legitimate questions about communication, accountability and preparedness.

Homeless Link’s national guidance, updated on Wednesday 14 October, is clear: severe weather is not just about freezing temperatures. Dangerous wind and rain matter too.

Where conditions threaten life, SWEP should be activated. The guidance recommends clear referral arrangements, out-of-hours support and keeping Friday activations open until Monday.

A yellow warning does not automatically require activation. But the colour of a weather symbol should not replace a proper risk assessment.

Tents, exposed doorways and soaked bedding do not become safer because temperatures remain above freezing.

SWEP itself is not a universal statutory entitlement to shelter. However, the Housing Act 1996 establishes separate accommodation duties where statutory conditions are met. Emergency protection must therefore be considered alongside, not instead of, existing legal responsibilities.

Brighton and Hove’s homelessness strategy records 3,580 people experiencing homelessness in June 2024, including 52 sleeping rough. These are historical figures but they demonstrate why preparedness matters.

Local government faces severe financial pressures and a housing system that too often protects property before people. These constraints are real. They do not make accountability optional. So what should change?

First, Brighton and Hove should publish clear, accessible SWEP activation criteria that explicitly consider wind, heavy rain, flooding, exposure and individual vulnerability rather than relying solely on temperature thresholds or warning colours.

Second, the council should maintain a prominently displayed, regularly updated SWEP status on its website, supported by telephone information and direct alerts to outreach teams, charities and emergency partners.

Anyone should be able to establish whether SWEP is active, where assistance is available and how to access it, including outside office hours.

Then, every activation decision, including a decision not to activate, should have a named responsible officer, documented risk assessment, clear out-of-hours cover and a scheduled review. Decisions should be open to subsequent scrutiny.

Finally, as climate change intensifies, the council should publish what happened during these storms, identify lessons and strengthen arrangements before the next severe weather warning.

Brighton and Hove has proudly earned Council of Sanctuary status. Although that award concerns welcoming people seeking refuge, its underlying principles of dignity and protection should extend to everyone facing danger without a safe home.

A city of sanctuary must be more than a certificate or a convenient political slogan. It should be a practical commitment, demonstrated when people need protection most.

This is not about blaming individuals. It is about ensuring that the system works regardless of who is on duty.

The next storm should trigger a clear decision, an accessible public announcement and a co-ordinated response, not three days of unanswered questions. Because when the weather turns dangerous, nobody should need a councillor to find out whether the door is open.

Bruno De Oliveira is a Green councillor who represents Hollingdean and Fiveways on Brighton and Hove City Council.