A new homelessness and rough sleeping strategy setting out priorities for the next 5 years in Brighton & Hove was adopted by councillors at the Cabinet meeting on Thursday 11 December.
The strategy – available online at www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/hrs-
Work reviewing homelessness in the city with partner organisations and a public consultation in the autumn helped shape the strategy.
The council is committed to providing more accessible, affordable and high-quality homes and is delivering more housing, including building more than 200 new council homes in Moulsecoomb.
However, not everyone in the city has a settled home and a report to the Cabinet meeting sets out that one in 77 people in the city are experiencing homelessness, including around 1,400 children.
Most homelessness involves people living in temporary accommodation or in insecure accommodation not just those sleeping rough.
The new strategy builds on action already being taken by the council’s housing teams and partners to prevent homelessness and provide support to people who have become homeless.
The Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy 2025-2030 sets out 3 priorities to prevent homelessness and guide work over the next 5 years, with a number of targeted, strategic actions for each.
The 3 priorities are:
1. Increase our effectiveness in preventing homelessness and rough sleeping
- Early identification of risk and early intervention
- Support people to stay in their homes or to find a new home
- Targeted prevention for people at risk of rough sleeping
2. Improve temporary accommodation pathways and experiences
- Improve move on from temporary accommodation into settled housing
- Support people living in temporary accommodation
- Improve the supply and quality of temporary accommodation
3. Improve joined-up support with our partners for people who most need help
- Target support for people who are most vulnerable
- Create integrated services for people with multiple compound needs
- Support people experiencing rough sleeping to access services and accommodation
The strategy also includes a specific focus on tackling homelessness in children, families and young people.
Councillor Paul Nann, the council’s lead member for homelessness, said: “Sadly not everyone in the city enjoys the benefits of a settled home and we are working tirelessly to change that.
“Homelessness can happen to anyone, but it disproportionately affects people who are already vulnerable – those who can’t afford to pay the rent, people fleeing violence and abuse, and those evicted by their landlord or asked to leave by family or friends – and the consequences can be devastating.
“Our overarching priority is to stop people becoming homeless in the first place and, with our partners, our housing teams are already working hard to prevent homelessness.
“With high demand for housing in the city, we know there is still much more to do.
“This strategy ties in with the government’s national goal to end homelessness announced yesterday and we welcome the commitment for additional investment to tackle homelessness and rough sleeping.
“We are grateful to everyone who has helped to shape our strategy for the next 5 years, including our partners and people with lived experience of homelessness. We have developed and refined these priorities and commitments together.”
Make Change Count
Resident can support the charities and organisations in Brighton & Hove working with people to help them find a permanent solution to their homelessness, by donating to Make Change Count at www.justgiving.com/campaign/
The Make Change Count campaign links local organisations experienced in supporting rough sleepers and preventing homelessness.
This year’s campaign has raised more than £3,000 so far. Many thanks to everyone who has donated.
