Local people will soon be able to have their say on a draft plan to further reduce homelessness and rough sleeping in Bracknell Forest.
Homelessness in the borough is low compared with many other areas, and is under the rate for the South East and England. The number of households assessed as homeless, or at risk of homelessness, has fallen from 573 in 2019 to 2020 to 429 in 2024 to 2025 (a 25% reduction).
Rough sleeping also remains low. Over the last 5 years, the annual rough sleeper count in Bracknell Forest has recorded between 2 and 10 people. The council’s rough sleeping team has recently been in contact with around 3 to 6 people each week, with people regularly offered accommodation and support.
The council has also kept the use of bed and breakfast and nightly paid accommodation low. The council rarely uses this type of accommodation, and in the past 5 years not a single family has lived in bed and breakfast accommodation for 6 continuous weeks or more.
The number of households in temporary accommodation has remained stable, while many other areas have seen large increases. Government data published in March shows that Bracknell Forest has one of the lowest levels of expensive nightly paid accommodation use among local authorities in the country.
While the borough has been successfully reducing the number of homeless households and supporting a low number of rough sleepers, a Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy (2027 to 2032) has been drafted to further help people.
The strategy sets out how the council and local partners will support people before they reach crisis point. It also explains how help will be given to people who do become homeless, so they can find and keep a safe place to live.
It focuses on 5 areas, in line with the Government’s national plan to end homelessness. These are:
- helping people understand their housing options and where can get help, and tackling the root cause of homelessness
- targeted prevention and support for people at higher risk of homelessness
- preventing crisis by helping people stay in their home
- improving temporary accommodation and making people’s experiences better if they do become homeless
- helping people avoid becoming homeless again and halving long-term rough sleeping
The draft plan was agreed for public consultation by cabinet councillors at their meeting on Tuesday 14 July. The consultation is expected to run from August to September. Details on how residents can have their say will be made available shortly.
Cllr Georgia Pickering, cabinet member for housing, community safety and communication, said:
“We have made really strong and important progress in reducing the number of people locally becoming homeless. In the past 5 years we have seen a 25% decrease in the amount of people either becoming homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. In many cases, the council has helped people stay in their current home or find another suitable place before they became homeless.
“The number of rough sleepers in the borough is also low, and we are continuing to support those people to access help and, where possible, accommodation.
“Support is also available for people facing extra challenges, including money worries, mental health needs, domestic abuse, or substance misuse.
“While this is good news, we know we have more to do to provide support, prevent people from becoming homeless and improve temporary accommodation. We have a draft plan for progressing this work so that everyone in the borough is supported and is aware of the options available to them before they get to a critical housing point or as and when they become homeless."
