Council launches new campaign to Help Homelessness in Eastleigh
Although levels of homelessness are generally low in Eastleigh Borough, even one is considered too many for the Council’s housing team, who launch a new campaign for this autumn/winter: Help Homelessness in Eastleigh.
The campaign aims to raise awareness of prevention and accommodation services, as well as to promote a new online form that residents and businesses can use to alert the Council to anyone who may be homeless and in need of help.
Businesses and residents will all be asked to ‘join the team’ and alert the Council to someone they believe is homeless, evidence that someone may have been sleeping rough, or there’s someone who needs the housing team’s assistance: The best way you can help is by letting us know.
Stereotypes will also be challenged as well as the assumed types of homelessness. Sofa surfing is a form of hidden homeless and that anyone, including young people and families, can become homeless from no fault of their own.
More transparency will be given over the process of support and the multi-agency approach to offer a variety of support, as the reasons and personal needs of each person are complex, and no one approach suits all. Members of the Housing and Outreach (Two Saints) teams will also feature to show the role of staff and their passion to help.
The Council’s priority is prevention, and the campaign will also encourage residents to seek help before they reach crisis point. There is a freephone number to call (0800 032 0540) and the drop-in service at Two Saints, found at 109a Leigh Road, Eastleigh SO50 9DR during office hours for people at risk or who have already become homeless.
www.eastleigh.gov.uk/homelessness
Cabinet Member for Social Policy, Councillor Tonia Craig, said: “A home is a cornerstone of wellbeing and the Housing team and local agencies work hard all year round to help those who are losing or have lost their home. We are aware that the financial challenges of the pandemic will continue into the future, and we are proud to support those who are most vulnerable and we need everyone’s help to do so”.