What does this mean?
Horsham District Council is committed to ensuring that no individual in our District is forced to sleep rough because they have no other viable option. While national policy aims to end rough sleeping entirely by 2027, we recognise that some individuals may still choose to sleep outside, even when support is offered. Our focus is therefore on removing the need to sleep rough ensuring that anyone who does not wish to be on the streets can quickly access safe, secure, and suitable accommodation, alongside tailored support to help them sustain it.

Challenges to achieving this goal:

• A continued gap between Local Housing Allowance rates and private rental costs, making many homes unaffordable.
• Limited affordable housing for under-35s, who are often restricted to the shared Local Housing Allowance rate.
• Complex personal circumstances, such as mental health conditions, substance misuse, and past trauma, which can make it difficult for individuals to engage with services and maintain accommodation.
• A shortage of “move-on” and supported housing options to bridge the transition from emergency accommodation to long-term housing.

What we have done and will continue to do:

• Strengthened our homelessness prevention and relief services, ensuring a rapid response to anyone identified as sleeping rough.
• Maintained annual rough sleeper counts to monitor trends and tailor our interventions.
• Expanded partnerships with organisations such as Turning Tides to provide dedicated outreach, mental health support, and Housing First solutions.
• Secured and utilised Rough Sleeper Initiative and related government funding to increase specialist support and accommodation options.
• Continued delivery of a targeted Housing First service, offering wrap-around support to help individuals sustain tenancies and rebuild their lives.

Over the 2026–2030 period, we will build on these foundations, focusing on prevention, early intervention, and cross-agency collaboration. Our aim is to ensure that anyone who finds themselves homeless is offered a safe place to stay and the support they need to move away from the streets permanently.