Wiltshire charity ready to support rough sleepers in heat wave
Homeless people face many similar challenges during high temperatures as in the winter, according to Doorway Project charity
Last updated 19th Jun 2025
A Wiltshire charity has told us rough sleepers face similar challenges during a heat wave as they do trying to stay warm in the winter.
The Met Office has issued a yellow heat health warning from midday on Wednesday until 6pm on Sunday in the South West, with temperatures predicted to exceed 30 degrees.
Jo Kitching is CEO of Chippenham-based Doorway Project and said: "They have to do something positive to change their environment, so how the environment is affecting them and that's really hard in both cold and heat."
She told us that rough sleepers are at risk of heat exhaustion and dehydration, because the body uses more energy to stay cool, as well as of sunburn.
"You can imagine how awful it is not to be able to find shade, it's bad enough for the rest of us when temperatures reach 30, even 31, it's just so much more difficult when you haven't got your own place," Jo added.
The charity offers hot food, laundry and washing facilities, as well as a space to escape the elements, whether it's wet or dry, on week days.
Jo said they'll be providing water bottles and buying water for their guests during this latest hot spell.
She said: "We often are donated some reusable water bottles. We seem to get those every year, which is really helpful.
"But also we just go out and buy water for our guests. So we make sure that when they're not in our space that they are able to rehydrate.
"We also give out sunscreen and we make sure that people get enough to eat, and we can also make sure that they know what else is available to them."
During severe weather conditions, the Council can trigger its Severe Weather Emergency Protocol (SWEP). It is normally activated during cold snaps in the winter, but is available for heat waves.
Jo said: "We have to wait for the Council to make that decision and then we can tell our guests that there is extra support and that actually does mean extra accommodation.
"It means people who are currently rough sleeping don't have to jump through the million hoops that they usually do, they can get straight into accommodation out of the sun."
Cllr Adrian Foster, Cabinet Member for Housing, said “Currently the conditions that trigger the warm weather SWEP arrangements have not been met but we are monitoring the situation closely. However, we have asked officers to give out bottled water, sun cream, signpost people to cool spaces and to perform welfare visits.
Despite not being open on weekends, the charity will advise on support available during weekends, with Jo telling us that partner organisations such as Unity House in Chippenham and Alabaré in Salisbury will be able to help.
The public can also help, through Streetlink.
Streetlink is a website where, with a person's consent we can inform the Council's rough sleeper team of a homeless person in need.
If we see a rough sleeper who is unwell in the heat, we are told to call the emergency services.