Officer helps rough sleepers off streets

THE number of rough sleepers in Kirklees has fallen after a housing officer helped get 13 of them off the streets. For the last four months housing officer Ian Brooke has been talking to people who are sleeping rough and finding out what would help.

By The Newsroom

Published 8th Jan 2010, 10:58 BST

Updated 8th Jan 2010, 10:58 BST

He said: "It may be about location or type of housing, as well as a need for ongoing housing related support. Individual plans have been developed to help rough sleepers move to sustainable housing. We have helped 13 people who were rough sleepers off the streets and moved them into temporary accommodation while suitable housing is found."

One former rough sleeper has gone into a private sector tenancy.

A Kirklees Council spokesman said: "Because of the recent cold weather the council is again making cold weather provision available to those who are faced with the possibility of sleeping rough.

"During the last cold spell in February 2009 the council provided cold weather help to 35 people. Since the latest cold weather provision began on December 18 there has only been a need to accommodate four people which indicates the success the council is having as it works toward ending the need to sleep rough in Kirklees."

Kirklees Kirklees Council