Government wants strategy responses

Councils, housing associations and the voluntary sector have been
asked to respond to a government consultation on a national
homelessness strategy to be launched by the Department for
Transport, Local Government and the Regions.

The DTLR
is interested in views on the targets of the strategy. The
government’s current target is to reduce the number of rough
sleepers by two-thirds by 2002 and to maintain or reduce the
numbers thereafter. The consultation also invites views on the role
of Best Value and more partnership working in tackling
homelessness.

The
national strategy is likely to concentrate on a policy of
prevention and provision, looking at the role of government, the
voluntary sector, registered social landlords, and the private
sector, as well as increasing social housing and making better use
of existing housing.

The
Homelessness Bill is before parliament and the government is
consulting on extending the categories of “priority need” to
include 16 and 17-year-olds and people who are vulnerable because
of an institutionalised background.

For
further details go to website
www.housing.dtlr.gov.uk/information/consult/nhs/index.htm