Efforts to prevent Homelessness praised

Mole Valley District Council's Housing team has been highly praised for their strategies aimed at preventing homelessness and assisting people to stay in their homes or to find somewhere they can afford to live.

Mole Valley is one of the most expensive places in the country to rent or buy property. Increases in the cost of living and problems such as family breakdown can lead residents to be at risk of homelessness.

Mole Valley’s Housing team has been recognised by the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government for outcomes well above national and regional averages, preventing homelessness for 71% of households that approach the Council at an early stage compared with 54% in this region and 52% nationally. Sixty percent of households that present as  homeless are placed in emergency accommodation while solutions including private rentals are found (30% regionally and 33% nationally).

Cllr Rosemary Hobbs, Cabinet Member for Community Services, said: “Our Housing team goes the extra mile to achieve these results and they deserve this recognition. Longer term, the Liberal Democrat controlled Council has ambitious plans to increase the proportion of affordable housing in Mole Valley.”