A NEW strategy to deal with the "shocking" levels of homelessness in Bradford has been approved.

At a meeting of Bradford Council's Executive on Thursday, members approved the Bradford Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy 2020 - 2025.

The existing strategy ran from 2014-2019, and the new, updated, strategy will see the Council partnering with groups such as Incommunities and homelessness charities to help more people find stable homes.

Last year 9,434 approaches were made to the Council by people at risk of becoming homeless.

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And there are thought to be at least 24 rough sleepers in the district.

The aims of the new strategy is to:

 Increase rates of successful prevention of homelessness

 Reduce the number of placements into temporary accommodation

 Reduce the length of stays in Bed & Breakfast accommodation

 Reduce rough sleeping "significantly"

At the meeting Adrienne Reid from Incommunities said: "We have to support the vulnerable.

"It is not enough to place someone in a home - it is also about enabling them to maintain that home to allow them to remain there.

"The strategy reflects the Bradford context. We have to improve access to housing.

"Ending homelessness and rough sleeping is everyone's business."

Alex Ross Shaw, Executive for Regeneration, Planning and Transport, said: "The number of approaches to the Council by people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness has gone up each year for the past 10 years.

"That is shocking. This is a problem being felt across the country. It is a national scandal. We're doing all we can to deal with it.

"A lot of the time people have complex needs or dual diagnoses - they may have mental health and substance abuse issues. It is important they don't fall through the cracks."