Youth Homelessness Strategy
Dover has above average levels of youth homelessness, and along
with other housing authorities nationally has experienced an
increasing proportion of homeless young applicants compared with
family applicants.
What is more, this is also an area where traditionally hidden
homelessness masks the true numbers of young people without
permanent suitable accommodation.
As well as stretching our resources of support and emergency
accommodation, to the extent that we are increasingly making use of
bed and breakfast accommodation to house young people temporarily,
we believe that homelessness should be avoided wherever possible,
so long as the young person remains safe. Alongside the review of
our wider Homelessness Strategy (in partnership with other East
Kent authorities) we have radically reviewed our approach to young
applicants and homeless young people.
It is imperative, therefore, that we change for the better our
relationship with young people who are at risk of homelessness, our
policies and procedures for working with them to support their
transition to adulthood and the accommodation and support options
which we offer.
The strategy has been developed in consultation with the Dover
Youth Homelessness forum around four key objectives:
- to prevent homelessness
- to eliminate the use of bed and breakfast as a form of
temporary accommodation
- to provide effective pathways to independence for young people
accommodated through the strategy
- to enable young people who are ready for and need their
independence to access sustainable housing accommodation in the
social or private markets.
The strategy contributes to the East Kent Homelessness Strategy
2008-13.
Contact Housing
Tel: 01304 821199
email housing.options@dover.gov.uk
