Housing team celebrates silver
Test Valley Borough Council’s Housing Options team is celebrating achieving national Silver Standard in preventing homelessness in the borough.
The team prevented around 427 households, including families, from becoming homeless in 2016/17 and is now working towards the gold standard.
Housing and Environmental Portfolio Holder, Councillor Phil Bundy, said: “This award is a fantastic way to recognise the hard work that goes into preventing homelessness in the borough. It is a credit to the staff who work with vulnerable people and those requiring emergency accommodation. I’d like to express my sincere gratitude to the team for making this recognition possible.”
The award comes from the National Practitioner Support Service, which sets 10 different 'challenges'. Each challenge is designed to help local authorities to deliver more efficient and cost-effective homelessness services. The challenges are assessed by peer-review and the Housing Options team has so far achieved five of them, including a commitment to not placing any young person aged 16 or 17 in bed and breakfast accommodation, and adopting a corporate commitment to preventing homelessness.
Anyone who is looking for housing support can contact the Council on 01264 368000 or visit www.testvalley.gov.uk.