A major plan aimed at reducing homelessness and rough sleeping in North Yorkshire is set to be considered by councillors.
North Yorkshire Council has developed its first-ever homelessness and rough sleeping strategy, which underlines the authority’s commitment to protecting vulnerable people and supporting local communities.
The five-year plan outlines a vision of preventing homelessness and rough sleeping wherever possible – and where it cannot be prevented, ensuring it is rare, brief and does not reoccur.
The strategy focuses on partnership working to guarantee good quality and stable temporary and long-term housing is available for those who need it most.
This will be supported with longer-term options to help vulnerable people sustain their homes.
North Yorkshire Council’s executive member for housing, Cllr Simon Myers, said:
“Preventing homelessness and rough sleeping is a significant challenge, with the backdrop of rising housing costs, the need for more affordable housing, and the growing number of people with multiple and complex needs.
“We are seeing increasing demand on our services given the rurality of North Yorkshire, the county’s ageing population and economic inequalities.
“A huge amount of work is ongoing to expand our temporary accommodation offer, invest in new models of supported housing and strengthening our partnerships with the voluntary and community sector.
“These efforts have recently received praise on a national level.
“We cannot afford to stand still, however, and this wide-reaching strategy – the first of its kind for North Yorkshire - is a collective call to action which reflects our belief that everyone deserves a place to call home and the support they need to keep it.”
The draft strategy outlines the current state of homelessness across North Yorkshire, highlighting four key priorities: preventing homelessness, increasing access to suitable accommodation, improving support services, and reducing rough sleeping.
In 2024, the council approved £11.6 million to develop additional temporary accommodation for the homeless.
To help develop the strategy, the council has liaised closely with national charity Homeless Link which works directly with people who have become homeless in England.
Consultation has also been held with people who use the council’s homelessness services through a series of surveys and focus groups.
The head of national consultancy development at Homeless Link, Sophie Price, said:
“We have been very pleased to support North Yorkshire with the homelessness and rough sleeping strategy.
“Everyone deserves the right to a safe and decent place to live.
“Working together, the council with local voluntary organisations and other accommodation providers can make real steps towards ending homelessness for good.”
Earlier this year, the council received praise from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government who complimented the ongoing work in Scarborough and Harrogate, two towns that have among the highest demand in the county for rough sleeping.
To maintain the momentum, the authority has launched homeless and rough sleeper partnerships and forums, which will see council staff, health practitioners and representatives from both the voluntary and community sectors work together to help oversee the strategy’s delivery.
By sharing best practice and working collaboratively, they aim to ensure the authority delivers high-quality services to meet the needs of people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.
Members of the council’s executive are due to discuss the draft strategy and decide whether it should be adopted in its current form when they meet on Tuesday 16th September.
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