Homelessness in Lincolnshire was put under the spotlight

The Lincolnshire Homelessness Strategy Group (LHSG) made up of the district councils and partner organisations met to reflect on the successes of its work over the last four years and to start planning for the future up to 2020.

Michelle Howard, chair of the LHSG, said: “We are really proud of this partnership and what is has achieved. The event last week was a great opportunity to reflect on the current countywide strategy, and to action plan for the future.

“But we continue to face new challenges and must work together innovatively to address the varied and complex issues that surround homelessness. It is a tough job, but the last four years have shown what working in partnership can achieve.”

Intervention is the key and district council figures show that over the last four years almost 10,000 people have been prevented from becoming homeless.

This has been achieved thorough a number of measures including by negotiating with landlords to prevent eviction, resolving housing benefit problems, providing housing advice and Discretionary Housing Payments.

Some of the partnerships other key successes have included zest youth theatre productions, youth housing coordinator, rough sleeper outreach service, breaking the myths campaign raising awareness of youth homelessness, training for staff amnd creation of vulnerable adult panels

The information gathered during the series of workshops on the day will go towards forming the LHSG’s strategy and priorities for 2016-2020.

To keep up to date with what the LHSG is doing visit the Facebook page at www.facebook.com/LHSG1 or follow the group on Twitter @LHSG_Lincs.