Harlow Council is asking residents and organisations for their views on a framework to prevent and relieve homelessness and rough sleeping in Harlow over the next 5 years.
By law, the council has to review its homelessness strategy at least every 5 years. The draft Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Framework for 2025-2030 was presented to Harlow Council’s Scrutiny Committee on Tuesday 15 October ahead of the public consultation starting. The framework sets out the homelessness strategy that the council will adopt and its priorities for tackling homelessness in Harlow, with partnership working being at the very heart of the strategy.
The latest version of the framework highlights priorities to increase homelessness prevention work, eliminate rough sleeping completely and improve access to suitable accommodation and support – this includes temporary accommodation, access to private sector housing, supported housing and homeownership.
The 6-week public consultation on the framework is now live, can be viewed here and runs until Monday 16 December at 5pm. All responses will be reviewed and help to shape the final version that will be implemented. This final version will go to Cabinet for agreement in March, before coming into effect on 1 April 2025.
Councillor David Carter, cabinet portfolio holder for housing, said:
“We want to see an end to rough sleeping in Harlow. It is part of our mission to transform Harlow’s housing. That is no easy task but I am confident that we can build on what we’ve already achieved over the previous 5 years to tackle homelessness: implementing a new policy to ensure homeless households are given due priority, ensuring the quota scheme is targeted at the right organisations to have local impact and supporting local people, and the delivery of Bromley Cottages and the ongoing support for Streets2Homes in managing rough sleeping numbers, so fewer people are hitting the streets.
“The coming years won’t be without challenges, from the ongoing cost of living crisis to a lack of support services to refer to, which would help prevent homelessness. This framework will shape the strategy we will use to navigate these challenges and more, and achieve our aims of eliminating rough sleeping in Harlow and further improve on the support available in tackling homelessness. I would encourage as many residents as possible have their say on this important document so that they can help us achieve our aims.”