Leader's fresh bid to battle homelessness

Council's efforts 'not good enough' as city sees sharp rise

- Phil Corrigan Local Democracy Reporter

STOKE-ON-TRENT'S council leader says a new homelessness strategy will 'change the climate' in town centres by reducing the number of rough sleepers.

Jane Ashworth says the city council has not been good enough at dealing with street homelessness, which has seen a sharp rise in Stoke-on-Trent in recent years.

Last autumn’s ‘snapshot’ showed there were an estimated 35 rough sleepers in Stoke-on-Trent, up from 25 in the previous year and the highest figure recorded in the city.

Stoke-on-Trent City Council has adopted a new homelessness and rough sleeping strategy, which prioritises prevention, support and ‘innovative intervention’ to ensure people have ‘prompt access to appropriate accommodation’