Introduction
The aim of this Strategy
To set out the Council’s approach to tackling homelessness as required by the Homelessness Act 2002. The Strategy will enable the Council to build on and extend the current range of services to take into account the information from the Review of Homelessness in Gateshead.
Background
Gateshead's Homelessness Strategy is based on a review of homelessness in Gateshead. The review identified the main problems facing homeless clients in Gateshead. The Council via its Supporting People Strategy has already identified areas of need following a needs mapping exercise. For the homelessness review this has been added to by consulting directly with service users and providers to identify other areas of unmet need.
The draft strategy based, on consultation with service users, stakeholders and staff, has four main objectives:
-
Prevention and working towards the eradication of homelessness - utilising innovative methods to enable households to remain at home or avoid the need to apply as homeless.
-
Reduction in the use of temporary accommodation - achievement of the CLG national target for TA reduction in use.
-
Working in Partnership to help vulnerable households - linking with stakeholders and agencies to assist applicants.
-
Continuous service improvement - moving the service forward during the course of the strategy in line with customer and Central Government requirements.