Local insight can stem homelessness
The news that the government is to axe its rough sleeping and homeless prevention advisors, although regrettable, is not surprising (Inside Housing, 30 July 2010).
I believe strongly that there needs to be more emphasis on local expertise and services to prevent homelessness, rather than having a one-size-fits-all national or regional approach.
Perhaps with the axing of this service there may be a chance that more resources will be steered towards effectively reducing the UK’s shamefully high level of homelessness.
Our experiences at the Supported Housing for Young People Project in Herefordshire have taught us that locally targeted active outreach services are key to defusing complex personal situations and stopping people from entering the slippery slope of having nowhere to call home.
Not only does this turn people’s lives around, but we have shown that every £1 spent on preventing crisis saves £4 for other public services.
In this time of economic uncertainty, there is more need than ever to work smartly while continuing to provide an efficient safety net. I hope that the focus away from how we count rough sleeping is now channelled into actually reducing homelessness.
Sam Pratley, head of SHYPP, part of West Mercia Housing Group
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