Weather conditions such as excessive heat and cold can pose a risk to the health, safety and wellbeing of people sleeping rough. The Extreme Weather Response supports people rough sleeping during periods of severe or extreme weather across South Australia.
If you are sleeping rough, or would like to know what supports are available during an activation in your area for people sleeping rough, call Homeless Connect SA on 1800 003 308 (24 hours, 7 days).
Types of responses
There are three types of responses that can be activated:
- Code Red for severe or extreme hot weather
- Code Blue for severe or extreme cold weather
- Severe Weather for severe or extreme events such as storms.
When a response is activated
When an Extreme Weather Response is activated, sa.gov.au will display the latest information about the current activation and the supports that may be available for people sleeping rough.
During an activation, homelessness services and the organisations they partner with, will try to contact people known to be sleeping rough to make them aware of available supports.
Responses vary by region, location and the services available in local communities.
During an activation, homelessness services and their partners may provide a range of services and supports, including:
- increased daytime operation hours
- increased staffing
- extended street outreach
- increased promotion of existing services
- practical aid such as clothing, blankets, water, food and sunscreen
- safe places to temporarily seek refuge from extreme weather during the day.
There are occasions when weather conditions are so extreme that they may severely impact the health, safety and wellbeing of people sleeping rough. This can include very high or very low overnight temperatures, often combined with excessive rain or high winds.
During extreme weather events that include such conditions, DHS may also recommend that homelessness services assist people sleeping rough to access overnight shelter or accommodation in certain circumstances and locations.
Contact Homeless Connect SA to find out what is available to support people sleeping rough during an activation in your region.
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.
Useful information during extreme weather
The Bureau of Meteorology provides a 4-day forecast for South Australia on their website, including warnings and observations.
During summer
The Bureau of Meteorology monitors for heatwave conditions over the next seven says and publishes the latest heatwave warnings and updates on its website.
The SA State Emergency Service issues a State Heatwave Summary every day during the summer months at 4:00 pm. When active, the summary will provide a heatwave forecast for the relevant days in list and map formats.
The SA State Emergency Service also publishes a range of information about how to stay safe during heatwaves.
SA Health has Healthy in the Heat resources that include fact sheets in English and other languages.
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 sleeping rough and want to know more about Extreme Weather Responses email DHSRoughSleeperExtremeWeatherResponse@sa.gov.au.