Innovation and investment are helping tackle homelessness in Dorset

Upfront investment in the council's Housing Service has proved highly successful in its work to prevent and tackle all forms of homelessness.

Much of this has been achieved by expanding our prevention offer and ensuring appropriate services and pathways are in place to meet the needs of residents. We have specifically invested in an early intervention team which targets those who may be at risk of homelessness.

Not only has this made a significant difference in providing that upstream early help, but it also helps mitigate the need for us acting at crisis point, which is crucial.

The approach has enabled us to significantly reduce the use of Temporary Accommodation (TA), including Bed and Breakfast hotels. As a result, our TA numbers have reduced from a high of nearly 400 two years ago to 180 currently, a reduction of over 50%. This compares favourably with the national situation, which has seen an increase of approximately 25%. This has also enabled us to all but eradicate the use of Bed and Breakfast hotels for families.

One of our most successful prevention initiatives has been our Key4Me scheme. Our new enhanced offer to landlords (Key4Me) has been particularly successful. Earlier this summer, we hit a milestone of 100 households, who were at risk of becoming homeless or currently homeless in our temporary accommodation, having their situation resolved.

Their work has helped see our homelessness prevention rate rising to 80%. This means that we can help four out of five people coming to us with homeless concerns.

Our figures, published in the most recent quarterly statistics released by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), are far higher than councils across the South West (54.5%) and England (51.4%).

Our work to reduce homelessness includes rough sleeping. Our autumn 2024 count showed 15 people recorded as sleeping rough in the Dorset Council area, unchanged from the previous year. This compares favourably with the national picture, where rough sleeping rose by 20%

Councillor Gill Taylor, Cabinet Portfolio lead for Housing, Health and Community Safety, welcomed the progress made but said there was more to do: "These figures reflect the impact of Dorset's proactive approach to homelessness prevention, supported by strong partnerships with organisations such as Shelter, Julian House, the Lantern Trust and Bus Shelter Dorset. We are also grateful to our many private landlords who have been instrumental in supporting us to prevent homelessness and I would encourage others to come forward and further support us.

"We have also seen the introduction of two new accommodation and support schemes, funded by the Single Homelessness Accommodation Programme (SHAP), which has provided 11 units of accommodation for rough sleepers.

"But we know we must do more, and we are also working on new ways to supply homes for people who need genera and specialist housing. We are making the best use of our assets, working with registered providers and exploring new leasing schemes over the next three years," she added.

 

Notes to Editors

For information on our Key4Me scheme - https://www.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/news/incentive-scheme-for-landlords-reaches-major-milestone