AN INCREASE in households with children being threatened with homelessness in Basingstoke and Deane raises concerns. 

Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities figures show 87 households with children were owed a prevention duty in Basingstoke and Deane in 2021-22 – up from 65 the year before.

This means the household has been threatened with homelessness and is eligible for local council support.

A further 27 households were owed a relief duty in the year to March, meaning they are already homeless and Basingstoke and Deane council must take reasonable steps to help the applicant to secure accommodation for at least six months.

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Nationally, 56,340 households with children were owed a prevention duty in 2021-22 – up by 24 per cent on 45,590 the year before.

In particular, domestic abuse pushed an increasing number of people towards homelessness, with some 11,330 of the 56,340 households with children owed a relief duty across the country caused by domestic abuse.

In Basingstoke and Deane, eight domestic abuse cases led to prevention duties, while 15 relief duties were owed.

The Government pledged in its 2019 manifesto to end homelessness by 2024.

Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council’s cabinet member for homes and regeneration Cllr Samuel Carr said: “Tackling the causes of homelessness and taking steps to identify early those at risk of homelessness is a key priority for the council. We are working hard to ensure the right help, support, and advice is provided to residents who need it.

"We fully anticipated there would be an increase in people needing our assistance last year. We prepared by putting additional specialist staff resources in place to deal with this.

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“We have a strong track record of taking action to prevent homelessness, and in 2021/22 we avoided homelessness and bed and breakfast for 95 per cent of the 1,982 households who needed our help.

“As a result of our work as a council, and because of our partnership with the borough's charitable and voluntary sector, we have advisers and expertise on-hand to give tailored help and support to those who are worried about becoming homeless. 

"It is vital that anyone who is worried about losing their home receives advice and support at the earliest opportunity."

Cllr Carr advised that if any resident is in this position to contact the council on 01256 844844.