Have your say on our ‘Homelessness and Rough Sleepers’ Strategy’

Overview

Have your say on our ‘Homelessness and Rough Sleepers’ Strategy’

All the information you provide in this survey will be treated in confidence.

The draft Strategy reflects the latest changes to national policy, including the Government’s National Plan to End Homelessness, the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017, the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 and the Renters’ Rights Act 2025.

Our priorities include three broad themes. We are keen to hear your views on the key initiatives and ideas that make up each theme and how you may be able to assist in the delivery of the themes.

Background to our Strategy

The demand for our homelessness services has increased steadily over the past five years.

The impact of homelessness has a devastating impact on those directly affected. There’s also a social cost that extends into the wider community, and a financial cost that draws resources away from other key public services.

There are three main causes of homelessness in the District:

• Friends and family are no longer willing or able to provide accommodation
• The end of a tenancy in the private rented sector
• Fleeing domestic abuse

House prices and private rents have gone up, so many people can no longer afford a home.

Average property prices are 11 times local salaries, and the average rent is £1,790 per month.

At the same time, demand for affordable rented housing is high. There are currently more than 1,200 households waiting for socially rented homes on our Housing Register.

More recently, inflation and reduced incomes have put extra pressure on many households.

During the lifetime of the current Strategy, that was adopted in 2023, we have:

• Prevented 213 households from becoming homeless
• Offered homelessness intervention and prevention support to 562 people
• Worked with housing associations to provide 163 affordable homes
• Improved the incentives on offer to landlords to encourage them to join our Sevenoaks Landlords Hub
• Secured over £300,000 in external funding to provide coordination, outreach and complex needs support to rough sleepers, those at risk of rough sleeping and supported accommodation
• Appointed a dedicated Domestic Abuse and Safeguarding Officer to support to all Council teams who work with residents experiencing domestic abuse.