COVENTRY City Councillors are today (Tuesday) discussing a new Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy which would run for five years.
The strategy ensures the council will do what it can to prevent homelessness, provide support, and ensure sufficient accommodation is available.
Details in the document have been co-produced by customers, partner organisations and stakeholders and respond to key legislation that sets out the Council’s duties in respect of homelessness and rough sleeping.
Councillor Naeem Akhtar, cabinet member for housing and communities, said: “I was out with the rough sleepers’ outreach team just last week and saw close up the great work they do.
“They provide support to people with more complex needs in difficult circumstances, and do everything they can to help people to gain some stability.
“Homelessness as an issue impacts a wide variety of individuals and families. That’s why it absolutely vital that we have a partnership approach. The service only works as well as it does because of the contribution of lots of agencies.
“This strategy maintains this approach and has been put together by the Council and its partners and people who have used the services.
“In recent years homelessness figures have increased, and we need to apply new approaches to support people in the best way possible.”
The council doesn’t own its own housing but now works with the social housing provider, Citizen, to manage how people access homes.
A homelessness prevention service, operated by the council, helps people who are facing homelessness to remain in their properties.
Higher living costs, reduced number of social housing and the Local Housing Allowance being less than local rental values, all affect the increase in homelessness.
A significant national investment has been made into rough sleeper services, however the funding it only confirmed until March 2025.
