Roaring and thundering in the stratosphere, swooping down to rattle the doors and squeeze through cracks in the windows. It's a blustery, blowy day, overcast, threats of rain and snow and disruption to travel.
The fastest post-Concorde flight from New York to London, coming in at four hours and fifty-six minutes this morning, while across the country train companies are issuing "Do Not Travel" notices, bridges and parks are closing, and a month of rainfall is expected in one day.
Video from the Met Office with fantastic graphics showing the British Isles obliterated by wind, rain and cloud during Storm Ciara.
The ten-day forecast from the Met Office showing the jet stream developing in North America and moving towards the British Isles.
Source Storm Brendan hits Adventure Island in Southend on the east coast of the British Isles earlier this year.
Source Large waves hit the sea wall as a train passes through Dawlish in south west England during Storm Brendan.
Source Storm Brendan throwing waves in Strangford Lough, Northern Ireland.
I'm cosy in the house, relieved there are no power outages in Leicester, a full pantry and several layers of clothes. All my outside jobs were done yesterday. Today is being mellow, writing blogs, listening to music and baking bread.
I wonder about the rough sleepers in Leicester, currently there are over thirty of them. I wonder if they have found shelter, whether The Bridge and the churches are open today.
The Homelessness Reduction Act became law in April 2018.
The Act improves the existing homelessness legislation, and adds two new duties:
Duty to take steps to prevent homelessness:
Councils must help people who are at risk of losing their home within the next 56 days. This means people can get help earlier. They must help by working with the person to create a personal housing plan, and then trying, together, to either keep the current home or find a suitable new home.
Duty to take steps to relieve homelessness:
Councils must help all people who are already homeless. They must help by working with the person to create a personal housing plan, and then trying, together, to find a suitable new home.
Both duties are regardless of whether the applicant is ‘intentionally homeless’ or ‘priority need’. This should mean that all eligible households are offered help to find a home, rather than some people being turned away. It should also make sure that the true scale of homelessness is recorded. (Source: LeicesterCity Council).
Things haven't changed too much yet, in fact they seem to be getting worse, but I am hopeful this legislation will change things for many people. They need it.