A new strategy has been launched in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole to prevent homelessness before it starts, focusing on early intervention and support for those at risk.
The Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy for 2026-2031, developed by BCP Council and Homelessness Partnership BCP, aims to identify problems early, act quickly, and learn from what works best for local residents.
Councillor Kieron Wilson, Cabinet member for Housing and Regulatory Services, said the approach is about listening to people with lived experience and working together as one system.
The strategy is designed to help residents at risk of losing their homes, people sleeping rough, and those experiencing hidden forms of homelessness.
The council’s Homelessness Prevention Team has already helped over 1,500 households and achieved a seventy-two percent success rate in preventing homelessness, with an eighteen percent reduction in rough sleeping.
The new strategy builds on this work, with services working more closely together so people receive support earlier and do not have to navigate complex systems alone. The approach also recognises that homelessness affects people differently, so support will be adapted to meet individual needs.
The strategy is backed by a wide range of partners, including housing providers, charities, health services, education, businesses, and community groups.
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