Dorset Council has secured £1.1 million in government funding to strengthen local efforts to prevent homelessness and rough sleeping across the county.

The funding will be used to help people access safe accommodation earlier, improve homelessness prevention services, and deliver new accommodation for those with a long-term history of rough sleeping.

Working closely with voluntary and community sector organisations, housing providers, health partners and support agencies, the council will focus on preventing homelessness before people reach crisis point.

The council is making better use of data and intelligence to identify households that may be at risk of homelessness, enabling earlier intervention and more personalised support. By working collaboratively with partners, Dorset Council aims to ensure residents receive the right help at the right time.

Councillor Gill Taylor, Dorset Council Cabinet Member for Housing and Homelessness, said: “Everyone has a right to a home, and nobody should have to sleep rough. Ending rough sleeping involves working every day with our voluntary sector partners to prevent people from becoming homeless.

“We want to provide people with the skills and opportunities to deal with their current situation and help them build stable, independent futures.”

Dorset Council’s homelessness prevention performance continues to exceed the national average. The additional funding will help build on this success and strengthen partnership approaches that reduce homelessness, improve outcomes for individuals, and create lasting positive change for communities across Dorset.