Archived press release

Date Published: 23/02/06

Aylesbury Vale District Council is seeking to reduce the number of homeless people currently living in temporary accommodation in the Vale. Cabinet members agreed this week to support an action plan which aims to cut the number of households in t...

Aylesbury Vale District Council is seeking to reduce the number of homeless people currently living in temporary accommodation in the Vale.

Cabinet members agreed this week to support an action plan which aims to cut the number of households in temporary accommodation by at least 50 per cent by 2010.

The council’s temporary accommodation strategy includes plans for the prevention of homelessness and the provision of support mechanisms for those people who are, or may become homeless.

AVDC, in partnership with other organisations, is aiming to reduce the number of households in temporary accommodation by:
• Replacing the council’s current hostel, Aylesbury New Lodge, with a new development comprising 74 self contained flats, seven shared flats for homeless people and 12 shared flats for other vulnerable residents. AVDC has set aside just over £4 million as a contribution towards the redevelopment.
• Providing 25 long stay and self contained homes for homeless single people. The council has set aside £2 million towards the development of the project.
• Arranging more home visits and widening the scope of advice offered to private sector tenants.
• Allocating “difficult to let” housing stock, such as bungalows in rural locations not required by elderly people, to homeless households.
• Nominating high priority applicants, including homeless households, to landlords for empty properties.
• Giving support to private landlords through the landlords’ forum and developing an accreditation scheme for private landlords to ensure best practice is followed.

Over the past three years, the council has introduced several initiatives to prevent and reduce homelessness, funding measures such as rent deposit schemes to enable households to find good quality accommodation in the private sector and mediation services to resolve family relationship breakdowns and enable young people to remain in the family home.

Councillor Michael Edmonds, Cabinet Member for Housing, said: “Homeless people are one of the most vulnerable groups and suitable longer term homes must be available to them. It’s about getting the right balance by providing homeless people with this accommodation, as well as ensuring homes are available to people on our waiting lists – that’s where the challenge lies for us.

“While the vast majority of homeless families are living in good quality, self contained housing, they do not have the security and opportunities that a settled home brings. Our temporary accommodation plan will further reduce and prevent homelessness and help to meet our ambition of providing decent homes for all in thriving and sustainable communities.”