Preventing Homelessness

Preventing Homelessness – the South and Vale Story

Saturday 10 October is World Homelessness Day – which aims to raise awareness of the needs of people experiencing homelessness and highlight the work being done to prevent it. In South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse District Councils this includes working with partner agencies to help support people and purchasing properties for people to live in.

The councils’ housing team has a remarkable record on homelessness prevention rates*. Over the past five years the team has secured accommodation for around 78 per cent of all people at risk of becoming homeless (within the two-month deadline). This is much higher than the national average of around 55 per cent of cases. By developing partnerships with other local agencies such as healthcare providers, the councils have been able to support households to avoid potential homelessness.

Since 2023 our team has moved nearly 400 homeless households from temporary to long term housing (186 South/ 198 Vale). During the same period more than 3,300 households (1,298 South/2,064 Vale) have been accommodated through the housing register.

The partnership approach is echoed with the team supporting rough sleepers. Nationally there has been an increasing number of people rough sleeping. However, both councils have managed to keep the numbers of rough sleepers down. At the annual rough sleeper count, which is conducted every autumn, a total of nine rough sleepers were identified in South and five in Vale in 2025. These people are offered support by our housing team.

Since 2020 the councils have also participated in a number of resettlement schemes for people who have found themselves homeless due to war and other conflict including from Ukraine and Afghanistan. The councils continue to do everything they can to help and welcome people displaced by war and persecution and provide sanctuary.

Cllr Andy Crawford, Vale of White Horse District Council Cabinet Member for Property, Housing and Economic Development said: “We are proud of the councils’ record when it comes to prevention of homelessness which can have a devastating effect on individuals and families. People at risk of becoming homeless often have complex needs that require a coordinated approach. Our officers work with partner agencies and make those connections with extremely positive results.”

Cllr Tony Worgan, South Oxfordshire District Council Cabinet Member for Housing said: “Our commitment to our most vulnerable residents is the most vital part of the role. Homelessness in England has increased significantly in the last decade due to rising rents, the cost-of-living crisis, and a shortage of affordable housing. We are looking to tackle this by providing council housing – becoming social landlords for the first time since 1997. With the help of government funding, South and Vale have acquired 81 homes (56 in South Oxfordshire and 25 in the Vale) to date. These properties will provide suitable, affordable homes for local people and help reduce the risk of homelessness in our districts further.”

Notes to editors

*Prevention rates – When a household is threatened with homelessness and alerts their local council to this fact, the authority has 56 days in which to prevent them from becoming homeless to meet the local authority ‘prevention duty’. This could involve activities to enable an applicant to remain in their current home or find alternative accommodation to prevent them from becoming homeless. South and Vale’s prevention rates are around 20 per cent higher than the national average.