Bournemouth, Christchurch, Poole | Posted on August 25th, 2026 | return to news

Preventing homelessness across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole

Dorset Community Foundation has teamed up with BCP Council to prevent people finding themselves out on the street.

A new initiative has been launched to prevent homelessness across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole.

Grants of up to £30,000 will be available through a new Dorset Community Foundation (DCF) fund in partnership with BCP Council.

The BCP Homelessness Prevention Fund is being funded through the Homelessness, Rough Sleeping and Domestic Abuse Grant (HRSDAG) awarded by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. It will help grass roots charities and groups supporting people who are at risk of homelessness or who face a higher risk of becoming homeless because of socio-economic factors.

Grants manager Ellie Maguire said that while DCF has several grant programmes that support organisations working with rough sleepers, the new fund is designed to help much earlier in people’s lives to prevent them getting into a situation when they might find themselves out on the street.

“For example, young people living in deprivation are statistically more likely to become homeless, especially those not in education, employment or training, so we would be interested in targeted youth work,” she said. “We really do mean prevention at the earliest point.

“If you can help a young person become more aspirational, to have stronger emotional resilience and greater skills, this can help to support employability and reduce risks of future homelessness.”

She said the fund could help groups working with people about to be discharged from hospital with nowhere to go, or those leaving temporary accommodation, care or prison. “Those are people with a more identifiable risk of homelessness, so that sort of support would be of interest to us,” she said.

People at risk could be going to community hubs, support groups or services for people with problems, such as finance or health, said Ellie. “Our grants could fund extra resources to help staff or volunteers ask the right questions and guide them to relevant services before their risks become crises.

“We could also support projects that reduce stays in emergency accommodation and help formerly homeless people now living independently, who may be at risk of being back out on the street. We want to maximise their chances of long term success in their new home.”

Grants of up to £30,000 are available but applications for smaller amounts are welcome. Grants must be spent within six months to two years but anyone requesting more than £15,000 would be expected to use it for a programme of at least one year.

Cllr Kieron Wilson, BCP Council’s Cabinet Member for Housing and Regulatory Services, said: “By identifying risks early and providing the right support at the right time, we can help people stay secure in their homes and avoid reaching crisis point.

“We know that when people receive the right support early, whether they’re a young person facing disadvantage, someone leaving care, hospital or prison, or a family struggling with rising pressures, we have a far better chance of helping them stay safe, secure and connected to their community.

“This fund will provide essential investment to those organisations that are often best placed to spot the warning signs and step in before challenges become crises. By investing in prevention we can create stronger foundations for individuals and families – and give people the opportunity to stay on track, maintain their independence and look to the future with confidence.”

DCF is holding two information sessions for applicants, on Wednesday 2 September from 10.30am to 12 noon at Bournemouth University’s Fusion Building on the Talbot Campus and online from 10.30am to noon on Thursday 3 September.

The fund opens for applications on 1 September and closes on 1 October.. Find out more about eligibility and how to apply at dorsetcommunityfoundation.org/unds/bcp_homelessness_prevention_fund.