Homelessness charity St Mungo's has activated an orange cold weather warning across London, declaring that plunging temperatures now pose a direct "threat to life" for thousands of people sleeping rough on the capital's streets.
Emergency Protocols Activated as Temperatures Plummet
The charity's alert follows the activation of the pan-London Severe Weather Emergency Protocol (SWEP) by Mayor Sadiq Khan and London councils in November. St Mungo's warns that any temperature at or below 6C is "potentially life-threatening" for those without shelter. Last year, the UK experienced 161 days at 6C or below, with 87% of those occurring during the winter months.
The warning comes at a critical juncture, with official estimates showing the number of people sleeping rough on a single autumn night in England rose to 4,667 in 2024. This marks the third consecutive annual increase, representing a 20% jump from the previous year. Nearly half of all rough sleepers (45%) are located in London and the South East.
Record Numbers and the Brutal Reality of Winter Streets
London has seen the largest regional rise, with the figure increasing from 1,132 in 2023 to 1,318 in 2024 – a 16% rise of 186 individuals. Furthermore, outreach workers recorded more than 13,000 people rough sleeping in London during 2024-2025, the highest number ever logged on the capital's CHAIN database.
Lee, a man supported by St Mungo's after nearly three decades drifting on and off the streets, described the brutal reality. "Some mornings I woke up covered in snow," he recalled. "Other nights I slept in a graveyard where squirrels chewed through my sleeping bag for nesting material. It was a brutal existence."
The orange warnings will be displayed at major London train stations, including Victoria, King's Cross, Waterloo, Charing Cross, Euston, and London Bridge – key locations where rough sleepers often seek shelter. The campaign aims to highlight the severe dangers of the cold and direct people to support services.
Health Risks and a Call for Public Support
Extreme cold exposes rough sleepers to hypothermia, frostbite, and respiratory viruses, placing immense strain on health services. Last winter, 43% of people assessed by St Mungo's had acute physical health needs. Projections suggest deaths linked to extreme cold will peak around 2030.
Despite the scale of the crisis, public awareness of how to help remains low. A third of the nation (33%) admits to not knowing how to support homeless people, and only 3% have used the StreetLink referral app. St Mungo's reports that 40% of Brits have not donated or provided support for homelessness causes in the past year, stating the need for donations is "greater than ever."
This winter, the mayor has announced a £10 million investment to tackle homelessness, alongside an additional £17 million in government funding aimed at ending rough sleeping by 2030.
How you can help a person sleeping rough:
- Use the StreetLink app or website to alert local outreach teams to the person's location.
- Contact your local council's housing options team for advice on emergency accommodation.
- Call Shelter's free housing advice helpline on 0808 800 4444.
- Support local day centres, which provide food, shelter, and advice. Find services via Homeless Link's database.
