With numbers of street homeless reducing from 22 to four at the last official count, Warwick District Council is putting new plans in place to help former rough sleepers to remain in secure accommodation

Following the 'everyone in' initiative from the government in March, the council worked alongside voluntary agencies to locate rough sleepers and those at risk of being out on the street to provide them with interim B&B accommodation.

Over 80 individuals were accommodated throughout the pandemic.

Whilst hotels and guest houses provided an immediate solution, the council is now making progress with its 'Housing First' initiative, an intensive support programme to enable former rough sleepers to move into their own accommodation.

Now that the Housing First programme is off the ground, the council will be changing its provision at its direct access hostel at William Wallsgrove House, Leamington to create a more supportive environment for those making the transition to permanent accommodation.

From Friday 11 December the hostel will close to allow the building to be converted for the new service. All the remaining residents are being rehoused with additional support being given to them while in their temporary new homes.

The district council is also making alternative arrangements to provide emergency accommodation to those in need, with the aim of ensuring that nobody in our district is street-homeless.

Warwick District Council's Portfolio Holder for Housing Services, Councillor Jan Matecki commented "I'm extremely proud of the work we have done at William Wallsgrove House over the past two years and would like to thank the council's housing team and our partner agencies for their amazing efforts to support more than 200 rough sleepers, many of whom have now found permanent accommodation, reconnected with friends and family or have undergone rehabilitation programmes.

"However, now is the time to make a temporary fix a more permanent solution and I am confident that our new service will help even more of the most vulnerable in our society to turn their lives around for good."