A NEW night shelter is being proposed for the town centre as one way for welfare bosses to cope with homelessness in the borough after the number of people needing support increased by almost 600 per cent in seven years.

More than 90 applications were accepted for homelessness support last year - up from just 13 at the end of 2012.

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This comes after 248 households applied for support in 2018/2019, meaning a 396 per cent surge in those seeking help from 2011/2012.

Despite the increase in homelessness support applications, WBC’s annual rough sleeper count tallied just ten rough sleepers in November 2019.

A new night shelter has been proposed for the borough to help cope with homelessness demand.

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Cllr John Halsall, Wokingham Borough Council (WBC) leader, told the News he expected the night shelter to be near the town centre.

He added: "If we can’t encourage them to go to a home then we need to find them some provision where they are most comfortable.

"Rough sleeping and homelessness is a tragedy.

"We really have tried our very best to ensure that they have the support they need."

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In addition to the night shelter, early outlines to build cheaper homes and closer working with private landlords are other measures planned as part of Wokingham Borough Council’s (WBC) homelessness and rough sleeping strategy.

The action plan has four key priorities for the next four years, which are:

-Early intervention and prevention
-Working towards ending rough sleeping and tackling hidden homelessness
-Building more affordable homes
-Supporting vulnerable residents

Cllr John Kaiser, Wokingham Borough Council’s (WBC) housing boss, said: “Whilst we are lucky that homelessness is low across the borough, if you are homeless it is devastating.

“Homelessness can have long term consequences for those affected.

“That’s why we at the council prioritise so highly tackling homelessness and ending rough sleeping.”

A report for Wokingham Borough Council (WBC) bosses claims the introduction of the Homelessness Reduction Act had a “significant impact” on the number of households asking for homelessness support.

The new legal framework meant local authorities were given more responsibilities for supporting those threatened with homelessness.

The main reasons for people applying for help, according to the report, are due to the end of a shorthold tenancy, a family eviction, domestic abuse or a relationship breakdown.

Providing emergency accommodation cost WBC more than £250,000 last year.

WBC’s top team will meet on Monday, December 23, where it is expected to give the new homelessness strategy the green light.