Number of homeless in Christchurch, Bournemouth and Poole 'substantially lower' says BCP Council

BCP Council said it has seen a more than two-thirds reduction in homelessness in the area since November, thanks to partnership which seeks to end rough sleeping.

Statistics recorded by the national Rough Sleeping Snapshot survey found 64 people sleeping rough in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole in November.

A further bi-monthly count carried out by local street outreach teams last month, however, identified a substantially lower figure of 20.

The council said the 69% reduction shows its commitment to ending rough sleeping across the area through multiple initiatives.

Cllr Hazel Allen, lead member for homelessness, said: "Severe weather emergency protocol activations in December and January helped to bring more than 100 people into safe accommodation.

"Significantly, 53% of all people helped during sub-zero temperatures have remained in accommodation.

"This is a fantastic result and everyone who worked so hard to protect those at risk should be proud of their achievements."

She added: "In addition, two new rough sleeping initiative funded services opened this month, providing 14 additional places in safe accommodation for people who have been rough sleeping.

"Along with wider partnership work, including the multi-disciplinary team which strives to find long-term solutions for people who have been rough sleeping, services are working tirelessly to end rough sleeping across the conurbation."

The ongoing roll-out of the government’s Rough Sleeping Accommodation Programme has also provided around 60 homes in the BCP area for people with a history of rough sleeping.

Andrew Teale, manager of the BCP outreach team, who also works with homelessness charity St Mungo's, said: "Whilst the current number of people rough sleeping in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole is less than half of what it was in November, the focus now needs to be on supporting them into longer term accommodation so they can move away from homelessness for good."

But Polly Neate, chief executive of housing and homeless charity Shelter, said figures nationally showed more and more people were losing the battle to keep a roof over their heads.

She added: "We’re facing a truly bleak situation."