Whilst most of us relish the hotter months – a chance to top up the tan, have a barbecue and explore the great outdoors – for people who are homeless without shelter, it can be a treacherous time, and one that could potentially be life-threatening.
Rising summer temperatures can lead to a high risk of sunstroke, sunburn and dehydration.
Luckily, there are plenty of small steps you can take to help people without a home to stay safe.
8 ways to help
1) Get your umbrellas out
If you’ve got any spare umbrellas lying around, you can offer these to someone experiencing homelessness. Not only are they great in winter for a bit of shelter when it’s raining, they’re perfect for this time of year too, offering respite from the sun in extreme heat.
2) Give away your sunscreen
Sunscreen can be pricey, so if you have some left over from your holiday or a couple of spare bottles sitting in your cabinet, hand one out to a person living on the streets – sun protection is important to someone who is out in the elements all day. The higher the SPF, the better.
3) Freeze some water bottles
There’s nothing better than rubbing an ice-cold bottle across your forehead on a balmy day. Stick a couple of 500ml bottles filled with water in your freezer to offer to someone experiencing homelessness on a hot day. We recommend this size as anything too big may be too heavy for people rough sleeping to carry with them.
Not only will this give them a chance to cool down their skin, but it will also melt into a crisp, cold bottle of water for them to drink later in the day.
4) Give out water-rich food
Could you hand out some food to give someone their next meal? Keeping in mind the time of year and the weather, try giving out more refreshing foods with a high-water content: fruit such as oranges, watermelon, apples and pineapple or salads with veggies like cucumber and lettuce can all offer some extra hydration.
5) Hand out your sun hats
In winter people tend to donate their coats and scarves, but summer is a great time to donate clothes too. Giving away caps, hats and sunglasses that you no longer wear can help someone prevent sunstroke and eye damage.
6) Contact emergency services where necessary
If you see anyone who appears to be suffering from sunstroke or needs urgent medical attention due to the heat, don’t hesitate to call 999 and ask for an ambulance.
7) Contact StreetLink
If you’re based in England or Wales, people experiencing homelessness can be referred to StreetLink. Just call 0300 500 9014, or download the Streetlink app, which allows you to send an alert when you’re concerned about someone sleeping rough. They will help you to connect a person sleeping rough with the local services that can support them.
8) Contact Centrepoint
And of course, for vulnerable young people experiencing homelessness, you can contact our Helpline team on 0808 800 0661, Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm, and they will provide that young person with help and guidance to get them into safe accommodation.
Ben Vaughan Centrepoint
Tamsin Clements