Action being taken to tackle homelessness in BCP was highlighted at a showcase event in Poole.
The Homelessness Partnership BCP organised the event which featured stands from some of its 46 members including Shelter, St Mungo’s, Faithworks, Access to Food Partnership, Routes to Roots, Citizens Advice BCP and BCHA.
The partnership has launched a new website and a Let’s Talk Renting helpline for private tenants.
Jamie White, Deputy Operations Manager, Citizens Advice Bureau, BCP, said: “Over the last 24 months we’ve seen the number of clients coming to us with threatened homelessness more than triple which is a real scary figure for ourselves.
“We know our colleagues in the partnership are seeing a similar demand.
“That’s where having this collaborative approach helps, really pushing the rights of private rented tenants and also making sure that tenancies are sustainable which is a good thing for landlords.
“We want to make sure we can support tenants and, in turn, landlords in that respect.”
Among those attending the event at Gather in the Dolphin Centre was Cllr Kieran Wilson, BCP Council’s Cabinet Member for Housing and Regulatory Services, pictured.
He told Bournemouth One: “I’ve been having a lot of emails coming into my inbox of people who have been told by their landlord that they’re going to be evicted or that the rents are going up and they can’t afford it so it’s definitely on the rise.
“I think it’s important to say that landlords are also facing a lot of pressure with mortgage rates going up and interest rates rising.
“These are all factors that are pushing people into this situation so it’s about talking about it early and trying to solve it together.”
In June 2023, Prince William visited the Faithworks Arch Carpentry Workshop in Westbourne.
It came after the Homelessness Partnership BCP put in a successful bid to the Royal Foundation, Prince William’s charity, to be one of six places chosen to receive five years of support to reduce homelessness, under the banner of ‘Homewards’.
Rob Cox, Trainee Development Manager at Faithworks, said the royal visit had been memorable.
He said: “It was wonderful and surreal to have him on our lathe, I think making a rolling pin. To see him do that was great.
“He came into our breakroom and sat down on our battered old dusty couch with our trainees – the people working in our projects.
“To sit down over a sandwich and a cup of tea, just chatting away, like people do at work.”