AFRA is encouraging all Folkestone residents to contribute to the FHDC consultation on meeting the needs of homeless and vulnerable members of the community.
A draft of the Homelessness Prevention Strategy for the next five years (2020 to 2025) has been published and feedback is welcomed until 2 October 2020.
The new plan sets out the council’s three priority areas:
◼️ Ending rough sleeping
◼️ Early intervention, prevention and support
◼️ Ensuring a good supply of affordable and suitable accommodation.
Included among the innovative aims to meet the priorities is the adoption of what is known as a Housing First approach. This provides intensive support for those who have been homeless with the aim of creating a stable home and enabling people to rebuild their lives.
Exploring the possibility of setting up a Social Enterprise Scheme to provide training and employment opportunities is also put forward in the strategy. To do this the council suggests bringing together a working group to include those who have been homeless, business entrepreneurs, council representatives and those from educational establishments.
Within the strategy the council outlines its commitment to building 1,000 new homes for rent and shared ownership between 2025 and 2035. Community Led Housing schemes, in which local people take action to address their own community’s housing needs, are also proposed.
Councillor David Godfrey, F&HDC Cabinet member for Housing, said: “This review of our five year strategy comes at a time when COVID-19 has brought into sharp focus the needs of people sleeping rough and of households facing the threat of becoming homeless.
“Our plans look at how we can work with our partners in the voluntary and statutory sectors to intervene even earlier before a household becomes threatened with becoming homeless. We want to identify those in need of support as soon as possible to prevent evictions wherever possible.
“We hope people will take the time to read what we are proposing. Perhaps we may also interest those who would like to be part of our suggested working group and work with the council to prevent and resolve homelessness.”
The Homelessness Act 2002 requires every local authority to review and renew their Homelessness Strategy every five years. Our previous strategy was a joint East Kent Homelessness Prevention Strategy, adopted by Folkestone & Hythe, Canterbury, Dover & Thanet councils and agreed in 2014.
Over the last few years there has been significant legislative change and welfare reform. Each council is now focusing on their area’s particular needs and producing strategies which reflect those needs.
The strategy and more information can be found by clicking here.
The Homelessness Prevention Strategy is now on the FHDC Website but stamped with draft. Has this been made official yet.