Information on Loughborough

Charnwood Homelessness Policy

Posted on 30/04/2008
P. Klein

street homeless person in the rain

Charnwood Borough Council in partnership with local agencies is currently carrying out a review of homelessness and developing a new and updated strategy for the next five years.

When people think of homelessness, they typically think of rough sleepers. However homelessness is a much wider problem than that and affects hundreds of thousands of families and individuals every year. Whilst these households may have a roof over their heads they are often living in very inadequate temporary accommodation which damages their health and well-being and just significantly the prospects for their children. It is also possible with the increase in repossessions that the situation will worsen.

Over the past few months Charnwood Borough Council and partners have been reviewing homelessness in Charnwood. As part of this process, priorities for the provision of services to homeless and potentially homeless households in the Borough will be identified. Consultations are being carried out during April and May seeking the views of customers and users of the service, the local community and organisations providing services to tackle and prevent homelessness in the Borough.

Cllr. David Slater, Charnwood Borough Council, said: “We are particularly keen to receive comments on areas such as the supply of temporary and permanent accommodation, homelessness prevention and provision of supported accommodation and services.”

“Feedback to come out of the consultation will go to form the draft strategy. All partner organisations will get sight of the draft strategy and have chance to feed into the final document which is set to go to cabinet on 26th June 08.”

Representatives from the following agencies are involved in the steering group and / or attended the consultation event held on 16th April:

• The Bridge

• Supporting People

• CAB

• Leicester County & Rutland PCT

• Connexions

• Loughborough Women’s Aid

• Leicestershire Police

• Charnwood BC Community Safety

• Social Services

• County Council

• Nottingham Community Housing Association

• Charnwood Independent Youth Action

• Leicestershire County DAAT

• Leicestershire Probation Service

• Turning Point Leicestershire

One major issue that needs to be addressed in the Charnwood / Loughborough area is the future of the East Midlands Hotel. The East Midlands Hotel is used by the Council to provide emergency accommodation, however there is a plan to redevelop the site. However the proprietor has so far given no indication of the time-scale for closure. Closure of the facility would cause problems in providing emergency accommodation in the area.

A Charnwood Borough Council spokesperson told inLoughborough: “The Government requires all Local Authorities to reduce the use of temporary and specifically bed and breakfast accommodation by 2010. As a result the Council and partners on the homelessness strategy steering group will be setting out priorities and actions within the new homelessness strategy to meet and maintain these targets. Specific emphasis will be placed upon providing a range of services to prevent homelessness wherever possible therefore avoiding the need to place households in temporary accommodation.

“Housing needs officers are however mindful of the gap that the closure of the East Midlands Hotel will leave in provision and work is already going on to identify possible solutions. Delivery of the range of actions identified through this process and through the Borough’s new homeless strategy will ensure that should the East Midlands Hotel close as a bed and breakfast establishment any gaps in provision will be addressed.”

Such actions to prevent homelessness might include mediation. The national homeless charity SHELTER believes that mediation can be a useful tool in assisting parties to communicate and prevent homelessness by resolving homelessness. However they are concerned that mediation, particularly aimed at young people, could be placed as an obstacle to accommodation and that this should be avoided at all costs. Likewise care has to be taken if the body funding the mediation process has a vested interest in the outcome.

If you are interested in feeding your views points you can write to Gemma Jones, Housing Strategy Manager at Housing Strategy, Charnwood Borough Council, Southfields, Loughborough, Leicestershire LE11 2TU. Alternatively you can email: HousingStrategy@charnwoodbc.gov.uk

External Relevant Websites:

Shelter