Shining a spotlight on homelessness in Dorset for World Homeless Day

Nearly 1,300 households have avoided homelessness in the Dorset Council area, an illumination to highlight housing help, has revealed.

The text ‘We’ve prevented 1290 households from becoming homeless. We could help you too. Call now on 01305 221000’ was projected on to council-owned temporary accommodation site, Hardy House, in Portland, which officially opened last week.

The council has prevented 1290 households from becoming homeless between 1 April 2024 and 30 September 2025, which is the rough equivalent of the number of households* in the parishes of:

• Stalbridge (North Dorset) 1,224
• Alderholt (East Dorset) 1,313
• Lytchett Matravers (Purbeck) 1,496
• Crossways (West Dorset) 1,092
• Southwell, Portland (South Dorset) 960

The figure featured alongside the Housing Advice helpline number, which was set up in collaboration with charities Citizens Advice and Shelter.

This helpline offers a range of services including mediation between tenants and landlords, income maximisation support and free advocacy at court.

Hardy House - formerly a youth hostel - is an Edwardian property being used to support families to transition from temporary accommodation to permanent homes. This is the council’s latest short-term accommodation site.

Portfolio holder for Housing and Health, Cllr Gill Taylor says: “The illumination acts as a reminder to Dorset residents that we are here to help with housing cost concerns and can offer free, confidential and non-judgemental advice.

“Our triage team who work on the Housing Advice helpline are keen to hear from anyone who thinks they are at risk of losing their home as soon as they can, so we have a better chance of helping them to resolve their situation with a positive outcome.

“We hope by working with us or one of our partners, residents feel empowered to take positive action and the result keeps people in their own home, allowing them to remain in their own community and surrounded by their support network.

“Don’t delay. Act today.”

The number of households the council has prevented from losing their homes has steadily risen over the last three years.

Between April 1 2023 and 30 September 2024, 953 households were prevented from becoming homeless.

And from 1 April 2022 to 24 September 2023, 525 households were prevented from becoming homeless.

The figures have been released to mark World Homeless Day (10 October), where organisations from over 100 countries raise awareness of the plight of homelessness and action being taken to address it.

Visit https://www.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/w/worried-about-losing-your-home for more information about the helpline.
 

*Data taken from ONS Census 2021

Credits:
Photograph - Elliot Millson
Projection - Asset AV Events
Producer - Archie Rowell