Homelessness is seen by many as the biggest social problem facing the BCP area, numbers of rough sleepers have increased by 300% since 2010, according to statistics from YMCA Bournemouth.
So, what are BCP Council planning to do about it? And is there a viable solution that the new Council can put forward?
£143,000 of additional funding from the Government’s National Rough Sleeping Strategy has been allocated to BCP Council, this means that more than £1.5m has been received since summer 2018 in an attempt to counter the problem.
The funding has been put towards employing more frontline outreach workers to work directly with those sleeping on the streets.
BCP Council says that since August 2018, 55 people have been moved from the streets into temporary accommodation as a result of the funding.
Councillor Keiron Wilson, Cabinet Member for Housing said: “We are already seeing significant results in helping more people off the streets in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole thanks to the additional funding.
“It’s important that we direct the funding to the right areas to ensure we have the most impact, including frontline outreach, drug and alcohol support as well as mental health support.
“Often those sleeping rough have very complex needs and some may have been on the streets for a long time and so it requires intensive and specialist support to ensure vulnerable people can move off the streets and in to suitable accommodation and receive the ongoing support they need.”
For more information on the Council’s homelessness strategy, or to make them aware of someone sleeping rough visit this website.