(Closed) Harrow Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy

Welcome to Harrow's Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy engagement page.

The London Borough of Harrow is refreshing its Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy, taking into consideration our priorities and the challenges we face. We would like your feedback to help inform the new strategy. The consultation will run for 6 weeks from 2nd December to 23:59 on 12th January 2025.

Background

Harrow has a limited supply of council and housing association homes, with a long list of people waiting for a home. Each year we are seeing more and more people asking for help with 4139 homeless approaches and 1586 homeless applications in the last 12 months. The social housing stock is insufficient to meet the need locally and the spend on temporary accommodation is unsustainable.

The new strategy will set out how, over the coming five years, we will work to prevent homelessness and support those who face or are at risk of becoming homeless.

We have identified four draft priorities for a new strategy that will help deliver outcomes to prevent and reduce homelessness in Harrow. These priorities are:

1. Working with partners: Prevent homelessness and rough sleeping by working more effectively with partners to assist vulnerable residents.
2. Early support and advice: Prevent homelessness through early housing advice and support to help residents to keep their current accommodation.
3. Homes that match people’s needs: Assist households to access suitable, affordable, and settled accommodation. Reduce the number of households in temporary accommodation.
4. Supporting the wellbeing of residents: Improve customer service and support that focuses on the wellbeing of residents.

The aims of this consultation are to

How to get involved with the consultation

Let us know your views by filling out the online survey below.

We want to hear from as many people as possible, to be sure that our strategy focuses on the right things. 

We would particularly like to hear from those who have experienced homelessness or who are at risk from homelessness, landlords (private and social) and those delivering services related to homelessness and rough sleeping.

If you’d like to speak to someone in person, or need help to fill in the survey, please join us at one of our drop-in sessions:

If you are unable to complete the survey online or want to find out more, please email: housing.strategy@harrow.gov.uk

What happens next? 

We will use your feedback to prepare a final version of the Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy for the Council to approve at Cabinet.