Homelessness policy 'averts a future crisis' (From The Oxford Times)
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Homelessness policy 'averts a future crisis'
9:30am Wednesday 27th February 2013 in News
A NEW policy created to avoid a “crisis point” with homelessness in the city has been approved.
Oxford City Council’s homelessness strategy was approved at a full council meeting on Monday night.
The new strategy meets Government guidelines which mean people who are facing homelessness will be found somewhere to live in the private sector.
Under the new proposals, it will be the council’s duty to make an ‘offer’ of private sector accommodation to an individual or family facing homelessness, but that duty ends if the person or people concerned turn it down.
At the meeting, the document received support from Labour, Lib Dem and Green councillors.
Labour councillor and executive member for housing Scott Seamons said: “This strategy reflects on the good work the council has done, but it also reflects on the growing challenges facing Oxford.”
Green councillor David Williams said: “The homelessness strategy is a cross-party policy and has been for many, many years.
“Homelessness is the worst aspect of our housing crisis and together we’re trying to bring forward a policy to combat that.”
Lib Dem Stuart McCready added: “I welcome this strategy.”
The policy was passed by a unanimous vote.
After the last city council street-count in January, there were eight people sleeping rough in Oxford.
