Blackburn with Darwen Council launch homeless strategy consultation

Blackburn with Darwen Council is inviting public feedback on its draft Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy as it seeks to further cut the number of people living on its streets.

Anyone is welcome to complete the online survey to share their views on how the authority can best support people who are homeless or at risk of losing their homes.

The consultation is open for five weeks until Sunday November 23.

Councillors on the Blackburn with Darwen Executive Board approved the draft Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy 2026 to 2031 at their meeting this month.

The highlighted the dramatic 47 per cent reduction in people sleeping rough in Blackburn with Darwen since 2021.

Across the UK there has been a 20 per cent rise.

During the lifespan of the current Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy 2020 to 2025 the council has delivered:

3,146 households prevented from becoming homeless;

3,094 households assisted into alternative accommodation;

5,478 households assisted by the Housing Needs and Support Team;

a new health and housing officer created to co-ordinate homeless hospital discharge;

a strategic HMO Board established to tackle conditions in Housing of Multiple Occupation, and an Article 4 Planning Policy in place to limit new HMO planning applications;

a 40 bed HMO closed due to issues with the support provision and property conditions;

a new recovery hub at the Salvation Army to support people with substance misuse; and

252 new affordable rented homes completed.

Blackburn with Darwen Council housing boss Cllr Damian Talbot said: “Our figures have shown that in Blackburn with Darwen we are bucking the national trend that has seen a rise in rough sleeping.

“Since 2020, we have increased the support available to people at risk of losing their homes to help them to stay in accommodation.

“The homeless pods in Shadsworth are a huge success story for the wrap-around support they provide to vulnerable people through the Changing Futures programme, as well as short-term accommodation.

“However it is a sad fact that we have seen a 108 per cent increase in the number of households contacting our Housing Needs team for help, for a variety of reasons including the cost of living crisis and its impact of the affordability of housing.”

Responses to the consultation, accessible on the council website, will be used to finalise the Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy with a view to it being formally approved by its executive in February.