Dorset, Political | Posted on June 25th, 2026 | return to news

Tackling homelessness in Dorset to step up

Dorset Council and BCP Council are working to prevent homelessness, with both authorities presenting new strategies.

Dorset Council says it is working to prevent homelessness and rough sleeping, and the public will be able to put forward their views on a new strategy later this year.

However, the council says it has made progress over the last 15 months.

It has opened five high-quality affordable homes for people and families who are homeless or at risk of homelessness at Hardy House, Portland; opened the Salvation Army supported living scheme for young adults aged 18-25 who are at risk of becoming homeless at West Farm, to provide a stable and safe environment and teach them new skills; launched five new multicoloured self-contained modular flats for former rough sleepers with The Bus Shelter Project to help people live more independently; and opened a new supported accommodation service for vulnerable women with experience of homelessness and rough sleeping at The Haven. The new six-bed housing scheme includes 24/7 onsite support services, delivered by an all-female staff.

Councillor Gill Taylor, Cabinet portfolio lead for Housing and Homelessness, said the recent Government National Plan to End Homelessness had introduced a stronger national emphasis on prevention and local accountability, with the council expected to move from reactive crisis responses towards a prevention-led model.

She said: “We will explore the use of Community Conversations with our partners, as well as seeking the views of rural communities, as well as the traditional pressure areas to the south of the county.

“We also want to build on the excellent relationships we have with our voluntary sector partners, who currently give invaluable rough sleeping support, providing opportunities to help people deal with their current crisis and assist in the development of skills and knowledge to get people back on their feet.”
Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council is also working to stop homelessness before it starts.

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 Chairperson of the Homelessness Delivery Board, said: “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.