Warwickshire embraces countywide approach to homelessness prevention

Conference will bring partners together to tackle homelessness

Warwickshire County Council, as a member of the county's Housing and Health Board, is set to hold a conference in September specifically to explore and address the issues that contribute to homelessness in the county.

The event, the first conference of its kind in Warwickshire, will bring together stakeholders, including Stratford-on-Avon District Council, who are helping to develop a countywide strategy to reduce homelessness.

Homelessness has emerged as a priority issue for Warwickshire due to increases in the number of people recorded as 'sleeping rough' - a 26% rise from 2016 to 2017. It is also estimated that approximately 33,400 adults in Warwickshire may be sofa surfing or in insecure accommodation, notwithstanding a further group of people who are considered statutorily homeless, meaning they cannot continue to live where they are due to legal or safety reasons.

The causes of homelessness are complex and cannot be solved with a housing solution alone.  Research suggests there are links to several individual factors, including poverty, early childhood adverse experiences, mental illness and substance misuse problems.

Homeless people are also more likely to die young, with an average age of death of 47, 30 years younger than the average age of death of the general population. Evidence suggests that homeless populations are also high users of acute services including emergency visits to A&E and inpatient admissions.

Earlier this year, Warwickshire County Council allocated £300,000 to help support a resolution to homelessness challenges.

The upcoming Warwickshire conference, entitled Countywide Approach to Homelessness Prevention, will take place on Thursday 27 September at the Dunchurch Park Hotel and Conference Centre.

Cllr Les Caborn, Portfolio Holder for Health and Wellbeing, said: "Preventing homelessness is a challenge across Warwickshire, and I am very pleased that we are working with our partners, in particular district and borough councils and NHS colleagues, to address the various factors that can increase someone's likelihood of becoming homeless, as well as reaching out to people who are already homeless to offer practical support.

"The conference in September represents an important opportunity for all the stakeholders involved in tackling this countywide issue to come together, share information and gain a wider understanding of each other's duties and services."

The Countywide Approach to Homelessness Prevention conference will be an important part of understanding countywide challenges, solutions and partnership opportunities.

Strategic partners, integral to delivering this agenda, include Warwickshire County Council, North Warwickshire Borough Council, Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council, Rugby Borough Council, Stratford-on-Avon District Council, Warwick District Council, and NHS partners - both Clinical Commissioning Groups and Trusts.

Cllr Tony Jefferson, Leader of Stratford-on-Avon District Council, said: "We are pleased to work in partnership to support the Countywide Approach to Homelessness Prevention Conference. As statutory partners we need to come together to find a joint solution to this challenge and support people to keep themselves safe, healthy and in suitable accommodation."