Preventing Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy
A new strategy which aims to tackle the challenges of preventing homelessness and rough sleeping in Darlington has been adopted following public consultation.
Our Preventing Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy 2025-2030 has been developed with the support of local partners and organisations including commissioning, adult and children’s services, health, probation, police, social and private landlords and the voluntary sector.
It aims to be, not just a council document, but one that is owned by partners and the people of Darlington. The draft strategy went out to public consultation late last year to gather the views of local residents, businesses and organisations, and a final version has now been adopted by the council.
Councillor Matthew Roche, cabinet member for health and housing, explained: “Preventing homelessness and rough sleeping is a huge issue at both national and local levels. This strategy sets out our ambition to meet the challenges, working in partnership with local providers and others to deliver better outcomes for our residents.
“Everyone in Darlington should have a secure, affordable place to call home, but such are the challenges at present this is not something we can manage on our own. We need to build upon the relationships we already have, and the new strategy sets out how we aim to do that.
“We would like to thank all those who have contributed to the development of the strategy and those who took the time to share their views and ideas during the consultation, and I’m delighted we now have a final version of the strategy to help us support those in need.”
The strategy sets out our long-term vision, which is simple yet ambitious:
- To work in partnership to end homelessness in Darlington
- That every resident in Darlington has a secure, affordable place to call home
- That the right support is in place at the right time
- Where homelessness occurs it is rare, brief and non-recurrent.
The co-produced six key priority areas to enable us to achieve this vision are:
- Working in partnership with charities and voluntary organisations, other social housing providers, Public Health and other statutory agencies to prevent homelessness
- Tackling rough sleeping by implementing our agreed Rough Sleeper Plan
- Increasing the amount and improving the quality of temporary accommodation
- Addressing homelessness faced by particular groups of people, including those presenting with multiple or complex needs
- Improving move on accommodation provision, including specialist housing and support provision
- Securing funding to increase accommodation and resources.
You can view the Darlington Preventing Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy 2025-2030 on our website at www.darlington.gov.uk/homelessness