TEST Valley Borough Council has pledged to have a ‘housing first’ approach to aid homeless people and has partnered with other parties to offer help.

The authority has reached an agreement with Aster Housing Association, Two Saints, Hampshire Constabulary and Hampshire County Council to begin incrementally piloting ‘housing first’ approaches.

It will mean that the priority will be to find accommodation for a homeless person before looking at any further issues which may have contributed to them needing a house in the first place.

Portfolio holder for housing and environmental health, Councillor Phil Bundy said: “The council is determined to continue to do all we can to help those in need, using a positive and proactive approach.

“These new partnerships and innovative approaches to tackling the issue of homelessness are helping us break down important societal barriers. Almost 80 per cent of our customers are now assessed using a new approach that looks at wider issues that might contribute to people’s housing need.”

“We are focusing on people’s strengths and personal aspirations, rather than simply taking an interest in support-needs and risk. The council’s aim is to support people to increase their confidence and self-reliance, and we are reaching out to wider partnerships to make this happen.

“I am grateful for the ongoing backing from our partners as we strive to deliver increasingly holistic support for the people coming to us for help.”

The council is also teaming up with community charity Unity, which has funded a ‘Link Worker’, who supports people in need to access different services that are available. They also advocate on behalf of individuals to resolve issues, including homelessness.

And has invested in pre-tenancy training provided by the Yellow Brick Road Project, to help improve people’s prospects of being offered accommodation by landlords.

The schemes come after the council launched a £100,000 pilot scheme to tackle homelessness in the borough in March this year.

Anyone concerned about their housing situation can contact the council on 01264 368000.