HART District Council (HDC) has secured £385,000 worth of central government funding as part of a new Homelessness Prevention Trailblazer programme.

The council, working in partnership with Rushmoor Borough Council, submitted its bid to the Department for Communities and Local Government as it looks to work with wider public services to deliver a more targeted approach to preventing homelessness.

The aim will be to deliver holistic support for people who may be homeless or threatened with homelessness, with interventions that extend beyond simply addressing housing related problems so that wider support needs can be identified and met.

The trailblazer will change the local assessment process, and work towards the provision of ‘universal prevention services that proactively assist people who may not traditionally have been considered to be a priority for homelessness support.

Phil Turner, head of community services, said: “The bid involved a lot of work across partner agencies including both local authorities and we will need that ongoing partner commitment to make the trailblazer a success.

“We want to develop our local services so that they adopt the principles set out in the Homelessness Reduction Bill and put Hart and Rushmoor ahead of the game.

“This will be a great benefit to our residents and in the current climate, new money to support homelessness services is very welcome.”

The project is due to run over the next two years.

The programme intends to develop a platform that can support other areas who share the Hart and Rushmoor ambition and wish to replicate their own version of the trailblazer in their area.

Stephen Gorys, cabinet member for housing, said: “This is fantastic news for the council and for local residents.

“We are very much looking forward to delivering an effective trailblazer with our colleagues at Rushmoor Borough Council.”

The Trailblazer will support Hart in its ongoing ambition to become a nationally recognised ‘Gold Standard’ Housing Standard.

HDC offers a free advice service for local residents and landlords regarding housing and related issues.