West Suffolk delivers 40 per cent increase in homelessness prevention

05 Nov 2025

Early intervention work by West Suffolk Council has helped prevent more than 200 households from becoming homeless in the past year.

The figure for the 12 months to 31 October represents a 40 per cent increase in successful homelessness preventions compared to the same period last year.

Cllr Richard O’Driscoll, Cabinet Member for Housing said: “The threat of homelessness must feel like a devastating experience. These households include local families, couples and individuals from West Suffolk all going through a difficult and challenging time in their lives. Under our Housing, Homelessness Reduction and Rough Sleeping Strategy, West Suffolk Council is continuing to place an emphasis on early intervention, trying to prevent households from becoming homeless in the first place.”

Where an individual, couple or family does become homeless, the council will look to work with them and support them to find alternate accommodation. West Suffolk Council would encourage anyone facing this situation to make contact with the housing team at the earliest opportunity. They can do this by phoning 01284 757178 Monday to  Friday 9am to 5pm or our out of hours number 01284 763252 – more information can be found on our homelessness webpage. The council will look to work with households to address any rent debts, affordability or other issues that could otherwise be a barrier to them getting a more permanent and settled home of their own. 

During the past 12 months the council has helped 153 households who were in temporary accommodation, out of homelessness into a place they can call home.

As of 1 November, West Suffolk Council was continuing to support 61 households in temporary accommodation.

Homelessness also includes anyone who doesn’t have a permanent place to call home including people who are sleeping on a friend’s sofa and rough sleepers the Government term for people who are homeless and sleeping outdoors.

West Suffolk Council employs a Rough Sleeper Support Service which works to encourage people who are rough sleeping to accept the support and accommodation that is available to them. The council is also continuing to invest in temporary accommodation including places for people who have been rough sleeping and need extra support.

“Sadly, some of the people our Rough Sleeper Support Service works to help are battling with addiction to drink or drugs and some have challenges to their mental health. That in turn means our attempts to get them supported in accommodation don’t always work. But we are dedicated to helping these vulnerable people and are buoyed by many success stories where our persistence has paid off, helping an individual turn their life around,” Cllr O’Driscoll, said:

“The number of people sleeping rough can change daily as people take up or leave their accommodation. Despite our best efforts we still had four people rough sleeping in West Suffolk on Saturday night (1 November), and we are continuing to do all that we can to encourage them to accept our help.”

If anyone sees or suspects someone is rough sleeping in West Suffolk, the quickest way to tell the council is through the StreetLink website. StreetLink then sends a notification to the Council’s Rough Sleeper Support Service, who, if they aren’t already aware, will go out to find and speak to the person in an effort to help them.

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