Dover District Council’s Cabinet has agreed a new Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy – with a renewed focus on prevention as part of a five-point action plan.
The action plan looks at five key areas:
- Tackling homelessness together – working with partners, including Porchlight, Kent Police, and county and district councils to identify and develop effective plans to help people back into housing
- Enhanced accommodation options – including building more Council-owned interim housing to reduce the use of temporary bed and breakfast accommodation
- Using resources effectively – including Discretionary Housing Payment funds to help people secure privately rented accommodation, and fully utilising Government grants, and producing bids for new funding initiatives
- Improving options for homeless households – including increasing the provision of new housing, and working with partners to facilitate affordable shared ownership as a way on to the property ladder
- Ending rough sleeping – a commitment to work to end rough sleeping by 2025.
DDC has an ambitious programme to build 500 new affordable homes across the district.
DDC has recently taken ownership of 8 flats on Folkestone Road, Dover, which provide interim housing for local people facing homelessness. Other projects include 65 new homes at William Muge and Snelgrove, 24 new affordable homes at Stockdale Gardens and Kimberley Close, as well as 26 new homes at Napchester Road.
Cllr Derek Murphy, DDC Cabinet Member for Housing said: “The Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy is a robust response to the housing issues facing homeless people in the district.
“The Covid-19 pandemic has reinforced how important the link is between access to good quality affordable housing and health, and DDC is committed to giving access to affordable housing to those in our district who need it.
“It is important that we have a plan to deal with this difficult issue, and that we work together to resolve it. This strategy for 2020 to 2024 is a key step as we continue to work to provide local people with the homes they need.”
For more information, please see the report to Cabinet today, or see the Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy on the DDC website.