The Extreme Weather Response supports people rough sleeping during extreme weather. Extreme weather conditions can pose a risk to health, safety and wellbeing for people sleeping rough.
If you are experiencing rough sleeping, contact Homeless Connect for support.
Phone 1800 003 308 available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week or visit Homeless Connect SA.
Extreme weather responses
There are three categories of extreme weather responses:
- Code Red for extreme hot weather.
- Code Blue for extremely cold weather.
- Severe Weather for extreme events such as storms.
When a response is activated
When a response is activated, homelessness services will try to contact people known to be rough sleeping to make them aware of available supports.
Responses vary by region, and severity, and may be activated as Tier 1 or Tier 2.
Tier 1
Homelessness services provide normal support but may:
- Increase daytime operation hours.
- Increase staffing.
- Extend street outreach work.
- Increased awareness of existing services.
Tier 2
Includes all Tier 1 day support actions plus may include overnight shelter or accommodation.
The response will look different depending on the region, code type called, and the tier level.
What activates a Code Red, Code Blue or Severe Weather response?
A response is activated based on weather forecasting from across South Australia. We work in close partnership with Homeless Connect, Specialist Homelessness Services, the Bureau of Meteorology and the State Emergency Service to inform, and deliver, a response.
Subscribe to receive Emergency Weather Response email alerts
Contact the Extreme Weather Response team
If you are a Specialist Homelessness Service or other community service supporting people rough sleeping and want to know more about Extreme Weather Responses, email DHSRoughSleeperExtremeWeatherResponse@sa.gov.au.