30 June 2026
Centre for Homelessness Impact
New approach launched to stop homelessness before it starts in BCP
We all want people to have a safe place to live. This new plan matters because it helps people earlier, stops problems getting worse, and makes sure fewer people end up homeless.
BCP Council and Homelessness Partnership BCP have launched a new Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy for 2026-2031, and it is different from anything done before. This new approach is simple: find problems early, act fast, and learn what really works. It is designed to help residents who are at risk of losing their home, people sleeping rough, and anyone struggling to stay in safe housing including those experiencing hidden forms of homelessness
Cllr Kieron Wilson, Cabinet member for Housing and Regulatory Services said:
“This strategy is about doing things differently. We are listening to people who have experienced homelessness, acting earlier and working together as one system. Our goal is simple, fewer people losing their homes and faster sustained support when they need it. We want to prevent homelessness wherever we can, not just respond to it.”
At the heart of the strategy is a strong focus on prevention. The goal is simple: to make homelessness rare by spotting risk early and stepping in before problems grow. This builds on the work of the council’s Homelessness Prevention Team, which was recently recognised with a Bronze award at the LGC Awards 2026. Their work is already making a difference across BCP, helping over 1,500 households and achieving a 72% success rate in preventing homelessness, alongside an 18% reduction in rough sleeping.
The strategy has also been shaped alongside people with lived experience of homelessness. Their insight has helped design services that are more understanding, more joined up and focused on what really helps people stay in stable housing.
For example, one young mother supported by BCP Council and partners had been forced to leave her home with a newborn after experiencing controlling and unsafe behaviour in a relationship. With nowhere suitable to stay, she was temporarily living in overcrowded family accommodation. Through early intervention and coordinated support across housing, safeguarding and specialist services, she was helped to access a safe, suitable home for herself and her baby.
Reflecting on the support she received, she said:
“I don’t think it would have happened without the support I had. It’s made such a positive difference and means a lot to us as we start to settle into our new home.”
Joe Kane-Smith, Independent Chair of the Homelessness Delivery Board, added:
“This strategy marks a real shift in how we work together across BCP. By focusing on prevention, sharing insight across partners and learning from people’s lived experience, we are building a system that steps in earlier and responds in a more human, joined-up way. The example of a young mother supported into a safe home shows what’s possible when services act quickly and collaboratively, preventing crisis rather than reacting to it.”
For residents, this will mean getting support earlier and more quickly. Services will work more closely together, so people do not have to repeat their story or navigate complex systems on their own. The focus is not just on helping people in a crisis, but on making sure they can stay in their homes and move forward with confidence.
This new way of working also reflects the reality that homelessness is not the same for everyone. By testing different approaches with different groups, partners can better understand what works and adapt support to meet real needs.
Behind this strategy is a shared commitment from housing providers, charities, health services, education, businesses, community groups and the private sector to work together, learn together and improve together.
The strategy comes at a time when rising pressures mean more people are at risk of homelessness. By changing how services work now, BCP is aiming to build a system that is more flexible, more responsive and better able to support people before things go wrong.
You can read more about our strategy here: Homelessness and rough sleeping strategy | BCP
