Cumberland Council approved a comprehensive Homelessness Prevention and Rough Sleeping Strategy this week, marking a significant step towards addressing the needs of residents who are at risk or experiencing homelessness.
The strategy will be implemented over the next 5 years and outlines how the council will work towards ending homelessness together with partners.
The strategy aims to make:
- Homelessness a rare occurrence: by increasing early intervention and prevention at a community level
- Homelessness as brief as possible: by increasing access to temporary and supported accommodation pathways
- Experience of homelessness is unrepeated: by increasing access to settled homes and targeted support at the right time
To achieve this, the Homeless Prevention and Rough Sleeping Strategy has been developed based on five strategic objectives:
- Prioritise early intervention and prevention of homelessness
- Work to end rough sleeping and multiple exclusion
- Develop and improve access to a suitable range of affordable settled, supported, and temporary accommodation solutions
- Deliver an efficient, effective, and accessible homelessness prevention and housing support service tailored to meet diverse needs
- Tackle Systemic Housing Insecurity
Cllr Emma Williamson, Executive Member for Children’s and Family Wellbeing and Housing at Cumberland Council, said:
“By focusing on offering help earlier, supporting the provision of diverse housing options, and offering support services that truly meet the needs of individuals, we are determined to make homelessness a rare and brief experience. We are committed to ensuring everyone in Cumberland has a place to call home, where they can thrive in a secure and supportive environment. The strategy approved today supports our work to reduce inequalities and improve health and wellbeing across Cumberland.”