The number of people at risk of homelessness in Bracknell is on the rise as steps have been laid out to address the issue.

If a person is at risk of becoming homeless, they can contact the council, which has a duty to do what it can to find them suitable accommodation.

Bracknell Forest Council received 735 homeless applications in 2020/21, an increase of 162 on the previous year (2019/21) when 573 applications were received.

The numbers of applications have increased since the passage of the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017, which aims to prevent more people from becoming homeless in the first place by identifying them earlier, intervening rapidly to make sure homelessness is  brief and non-recurrent, and helping people to stop being homeless by getting them back on their feet.

READ MORE: Over £1 million spent to house homeless and rough sleepers in Bracknell

Homelessness does not just mean rough sleeping, it can also mean those living in temporary accommodation, and in ‘inadequate housing’ which could be structurally unsafe or extremely overcrowded.

Although homeless applications have increased in the area, the number of rough sleepers has declined from 22 in November 2019, to four in 2020 and to two in 2021 with the help of the government’s ‘Everyone In’ initiative which gives the council and housing authorities funding to make sure suitable accommodation is provided for rough sleepers.

Bracknell Forest Council has laid out what it is doing locally to tackle the issue in its Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy 2021-2026.

The strategy is based on five priorities:

  1. Universal prevention – ensuring people know the housing options available in Bracknell Forest
  2. Targeted prevention – reaching people earlier
  3. Preventing and relieving homelessness at crisis point
  4. Recovery – helping the homeless get support
  5. Having a range of suitable housing options

A key way of preventing homelessness is providing at risk individuals and families with temporary accommodation.

The number of households in temporary accommodation in Bracknell Forest has gone up, with 174 in temporary accommodation in March 2021, an increase of 38 on the 136 in the previous year.

The strategy was approved unanimously by Bracknell Forest Council’s executive committee on Tuesday, January 25.

READ MORE: Assisting needy families, homes for rough sleepers plus more key decisions made by Bracknell executives

Councillor Dale Birch, executive member for adult services, health and housing (Conservative, Little Sandhurst and Wellington) said: “With some of the rough sleepers, it is often very difficult to engage with them because they see what they do as their lifestyle choice.

“But if you look at the success rate that our options team and our rough sleepers team have had in helping our homeless and rough sleepers its really quite impressive.

“We’ve even had rough sleepers that have been brought in who have turned their lives round, who are now living in stable accommodation and have employment.”

He went onto thank the rough sleeping team, stating: “It’s tough out there, folks.”

Anyone at risk of homelessness in Bracknell Forest should fill in the council’s online form here.

Alternatively, call 01344 352010