Number of people in temporary accommodation falls as DDC tackles homelessness

The number of people housed in B&B and nightly paid accommodation in the Dover district fell by 40% between October 2017 and May 2018 - the seventh monthly consecutive fall - as a result of concerted action by Dover District Council to address homelessness.  The number of people and families housed in temporary accommodation in the district fell from 99 in October 2017 to 59 in May 2018.  

Cllr Pauline Beresford, Cabinet Member for Housing and Homelessness, said: "We’re tackling homelessness on many fronts, working to keep people in their homes, or providing more cost effective interim accommodation where that’s not possible." 

Dover District Council recently purchased and brought back into use three empty properties on Folkestone Road in Dover.  The properties were extensively refurbished into nine flats providing interim accommodation for people who find themselves homeless whilst a permanent home can be found for them. 

Cllr Beresford continued: "By increasing the availability of Council-owned interim accommodation we’re able to provide a more stable home environment for those who unfortunately find themselves homeless, whilst also reducing the cost of temporary accommodation to the taxpayer. 

"There will be more work to maintain this progress in the face of the pressures we expect to face from the new Homelessness Reduction Act, and to ensure we respond proactively to those who are homeless or threatened with homelessness, irrespective of their priority need status." 

Dover District Council is also developing plans for more affordable housing. Projects currently in the pipeline include the potential to build new council houses, modular and sheltered housing, and investing in affordable homes on new private housing developments.