Liverpool City Council has issued advice for the city's homeless community as temperatures soar close to 30°C this week, activating its Severe Weather Emergency Protocol to provide additional support and accommodation for rough sleepers.
Homeless Individuals Face Severe Heat Risks
Just last month, some of those living on the streets in the city centre told the Liverpool ECHO about the challenges they face during warmer days. Steven Moore, 53, who had been taking refuge from the heat in a doorway off Concert Square, said: "Personal hygiene, looking after your feet, staying hydrated [are the main concerns]. I have to go to the toilet in pubs and let the cold tap run until it's ice-cold, and I just swill my face with ice-cold water or even take my t-shirt off and just wet my hands and rub cold water all over the top half of my body just to cool down."
He added: "[My old socks] were that sweaty and that bad that I took them off and threw them away. So then I was walking round for 24 to 36 hours with no socks on and my feet were cabbaged, absolutely cabbaged."
Council Activates Extreme Heat Protocol
According to Liverpool City Council, almost 2,000 calls were made to its Always Help Available helpline throughout December 2025 regarding people experiencing homelessness. In January, the ECHO reported that more than 150 people had been sleeping rough on Liverpool's streets in December 2025.
A council spokesperson said: "High temperatures have triggered Liverpool City Council’s Severe Weather Emergency Protocol, meaning additional support and accommodation will be made available for people who are rough sleeping. This enhanced response is activated during periods of extreme heat under an Amber Heat Health Alert, recognising the serious risks high temperatures pose to health and wellbeing."
Support is delivered by the council in partnership with homelessness charity the Whitechapel Centre. Outreach teams are increasing contact and offering access to cooling spaces, hydration, and additional emergency accommodation where needed. The Met Office has advised that the current hot weather conditions are expected to continue, and residents are urged to take precautions and check on those most at risk.
Health Risks and How to Help
Shelter, a housing charity, offers advice on how to help rough sleepers in hot weather. Their website states: "The health effects of heat can be severe and life-threatening. Heat exhaustion happens when a person overheats. Symptoms include heavy sweating, dizziness and feeling faint. If a person doesn’t cool down and hydrate they can develop heatstroke. Heatstroke is a life-threatening condition and anyone showing symptoms needs emergency medical help. Signs of heatstroke include seizures, confusion and loss of consciousness."
Shelter warns that when a rough sleeper collapses from heat exhaustion or heatstroke, they might be mistaken for being asleep or drunk. Outreach staff and others should understand the symptoms of heat-related illnesses and know to take quick action. The NHS has heat exhaustion and heatstroke health advice available.
