Document Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy Update

The Homelessness Act 2002 places a duty on every local authority to develop and publish a Homelessness Strategy, with rough sleeping added to the original remit by government in light of the rise in homelessness.

The Head of Housing Services & Business Planning commented that the council’s current strategy was approved by Committee in 2019, and the report provided an update on the strategy’s action plan for years four and five.  A refreshed strategy would be brought to Committee in March 2024.

Despite the low levels of rough sleeping in the borough there was an increasing cohort of single adults with complex needs who do not meet the priority need threshold under which the Council would be responsible for accommodating them.  However these individuals still require high levels of support to relieve or prevent homelessness, and the Housing department were currently recruiting for a Housing Navigator to work with rough sleepers to identify pathways into housing and establish channels with the agencies who would provide them with vital support.

            Resolved that:

Committee noted the update on the Homelessness & Rough Sleeping Strategy 2019-24