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| 29 Aug 06 | 11:53am - New Housing Board Drafts Homelessness Strategy |
The North West Regional Housing Board is consulting on a new Regional Homelessness Strategy. The draft Strategy provides advice to local authorities and housing providers on preventing homelessness and will inform the development and implementation of the Regional Housing Strategy.
The Strategy highlights the main cause of homelessness within the North West as family break-up, particularly parents evicting their grown up or teenage children. The second single biggest cause of homelessness is domestic violence, which is more prevalent within the North West than other parts of the country. However there are many other causes of homelessness, such as health problems and prisoners being released from custody with nowhere to go.
Peter Hart, NWRA Regional Housing Manager, said:
"The draft Strategy concentrates on areas where the Board can best make a difference in reducing homelessness within the North West, either by changing policies and practices or by showcasing examples of good practice."
Examples include:
*beefing up local authorities` nomination agreements with Registered Social Landlords to take homeless households as tenants,
*combining hostel accommodation with life skills and vocational training to encourage independent living,
*planning for adequate refuge accommodation for victims of domestic violence,
*better informing Black and Minority Ethnic communities of housing services and entitlements, and
*keeping better track of prisoners due for release but with no accommodation to go to.
Finally, the Strategy notes that the nature local authorities` work in tackling homelessness has changed in recent years with much more emphasis on prevention. The Strategy encourages authorities to shift resources into prevention, and also shows the benefits some authorities are already finding from joint working.
The consultation on the Draft Regional Homeless Strategy will run until 17th November 2006.
Notes to editors
The North West Regional Assembly is responsible for the Regional Housing Board, taking over responsibility from GONW earlier this year.
The key role for Regional Housing Boards is to develop, implement and review a regional housing strategy; and, advise Ministers on how the Regional Housing Pot should be allocated to support strategic housing authorities and Housing Corporation activity in the region.
Contacts: Alastair Bishop, GONW
tel 0161 952 4041
email alastair.bishop@gonw.gsi.gov.uk. |
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