Study says half of councils think homelessness strategies useless

The research showed that 52% of authorities think their strategy will be effective in the future to a great, or some, extent.

In addition, only 40% believe their homeless strategy has had a great, or fair, impact on helping them meet the government’s rough sleeping and bed and breakfast targets.

The government wants local authorities to reduce rough sleeping by two thirds and get families with children out of bed and breakfast except in six-week emergencies.

An LGA said: “Remember, many authorities are doing these strategies for the first time and some have not worked closely with homelessness charities and social services before.”

Some local authorities were upbeat about their strategies. Alan Matthews, assistant director of needs and resources at Croydon council, said: “My view is the strategies are achieving real results and this is certainly the case in Croydon. But it does not remove the underlying housing shortage and the urgent need for investment.”

A spokesman for housing charity Shelter said its own research had found local authorities generally perceive the strategies as helpful.

He said: “It’s important for local authorities to continue to properly resource these strategies and keep reviewing them to keep them relevant to badly housed people.

“We wouldn’t want to see the great work that has been done go to waste just because no reviews are done before the official one in 2008. Issues like a lack of resources need to be identified and presented to the ODPM’s select committee inquiry on homelessness later this month.”