Dundee City Council Press Releases

Recent Press Releases | Archive | 2008 | August subscribe to our RSS feed

New Homeless Strategy

A comprehensive document mapping out how Dundee will tackle homelessness over the next four years will go before councillors in the city this month.

A report to the city council's housing, Dundee Contract Services and environment services committee on Monday (June 23) focuses on how the council and its partners will respond to the needs of people who find themselves homeless.

The document highlights the positive joint working with local housing associations that has led to a wider range of accommodation being made available to homeless people, including additional resettlement hostel places and temporary homes.

The modernisation of Lily Walker Centre and the steady growth in the provision of "network" furnished flats were among the initiatives helping to address the need for more temporary accommodation.

The new strategy was developed after a wide-ranging consultation with some 30 outside bodies in the voluntary, charitable and statutory sectors.

City council administration leader Councillor Kevin Keenan said: "I welcome this very important housing document on how help will be provided to people affected by homelessness.

"It is exactly the type of high-level, comprehensive report that I would like to see brought forward to committee so that all councillors are brought up to date with the current position on a whole range of housing issues, including stock condition, investment strategy, tenant participation, estate management and repairs."

Housing convener Councillor George Regan said: “This new strategy is a comprehensive assessment of the main issues affecting homeless people in Dundee and an overview of how a wide range of services are responding to their needs.

"The city council is determined to play its part in eradicating homelessness and wants Dundee to offer high-quality and responsive services. No one agency can hope to tackle the problem alone and that is why the strategy brings together and involves agencies working with people experiencing homelessness or providing services for them.

"We do not underestimate the task that faces the council and its partners, because, like all other local authorities, we have been facing increased demand for temporary accommodation as a result of changes in legislation.

"However, in Dundee progress is being made in the provision of accommodation and support to those who need help at a very difficult time in their life."

Councillor Regan said the new strategy built on the successes achieved in the last four years and develops the services that will take the city through to 2012.

He added: "Over the next four years we will be working closely with our partners in the city to make sure that homeless people are rehoused from temporary accommodation as quickly and appropriately as possible.

"Where necessary this will include more intensive support settings, building on the partnership work we are already undertaking with health providers in the city.

"Every homeless person faces a different set of circumstances. Some have complex needs that require more than just a roof over their heads and the longer-term support that this entails has to be provided.

"I am confident that this strategy will help Dundee to continue to rise to the challenge of supporting those who find themselves homeless."