A New Dawn in Tackling Homelessness: Broadland and South Norfolk’s United Front

In the face of an unprecedented housing crisis, Broadland and South Norfolk Councils have joined forces to combat the growing challenges of homelessness and rough sleeping across their communities. Despite having achieved significant milestones in recent years, both councils recognize that the escalating housing costs and broader socioeconomic pressures demand a more robust, coordinated response. Their newly developed joint strategy represents not just a policy document, but a commitment to fundamentally transform how homelessness is addressed in these districts. Through person-centered approaches and innovative partnerships, they aim to create sustainable solutions that recognize the complex, individual nature of housing insecurity. This collaborative effort acknowledges a sobering reality: without decisive intervention, temporary accommodation needs could surge by over 300% by 2029, placing unbearable strain on already stretched resources and, more importantly, leaving more vulnerable citizens without stable housing.

The path to this strategic alliance has been paved with notable successes that demonstrate both councils’ dedication to vulnerable residents. They have significantly expanded their in-house rough sleeper support teams, providing specialized assistance to those facing the most extreme forms of housing deprivation. Care leavers, often at disproportionate risk of homelessness, have benefited from enhanced housing support systems designed to ease their transition to independent living. Particularly encouraging has been the increase in dedicated temporary accommodation for survivors of domestic abuse, offering crucial safe spaces for those fleeing dangerous situations. On the permanent housing front, the councils and their Registered Provider partners have delivered impressive results, with 679 new social housing homes in Broadland and 935 in South Norfolk between 2020 and 2025. These achievements reflect a genuine commitment to addressing not just immediate crises but also the fundamental need for affordable housing options across both districts.

Despite these accomplishments, the councils face daunting challenges that have necessitated this ambitious new strategy. As South Norfolk Councillor Graham Minshull candidly acknowledges, “The reality of the housing crisis means we must adapt and escalate our efforts.” His words capture the urgency felt by local leaders confronting rising homelessness figures and housing affordability barriers. This new approach is rooted in the understanding that homelessness cannot be solved through isolated interventions but requires a “collective, collaborative response” that brings together diverse stakeholders, including those with lived experience of housing instability. The councils have structured their response around four interconnected priorities that address the full spectrum of homelessness challenges: prevention of housing loss before it occurs; provision of safe, dignified temporary accommodation; development of varied pathways to stable housing; and enhancement of systems and partnerships that underpin all homeless services.

At the heart of this new strategy lies a groundbreaking initiative to purchase council-owned temporary accommodation units—a direct response to the unsustainable reliance on costly nightly-paid Bed & Breakfast arrangements. This program represents more than just financial prudence; it embodies a commitment to dignity and stability for households experiencing housing crises. By the end of March 2026, this ambitious project will deliver an additional 70 units in Broadland and 81 in South Norfolk, providing vulnerable families and individuals with secure, quality housing during their periods of transition. Beyond the immediate benefit to those housed, this approach promises significant cost savings that can be reinvested in preventative services, creating a virtuous cycle of improved outcomes. This shift from reactive emergency measures to strategic investment in appropriate accommodation reflects a mature understanding of both the human and fiscal costs of homelessness.

Prevention stands as the cornerstone of the councils’ approach, recognizing that stopping homelessness before it occurs is infinitely preferable to addressing its aftermath. This proactive stance involves identifying households at risk before they reach crisis point and deploying targeted interventions that address the specific factors threatening their housing stability. Such early intervention requires sophisticated coordination between housing services, mental health support, addiction services, employment assistance, and financial advice. The strategy emphasizes that prevention is not merely about maintaining current housing but addressing the underlying vulnerabilities that lead to housing insecurity in the first place. By investing in these upstream solutions, the councils aim to progressively reduce the number of individuals and families experiencing the trauma and disruption of homelessness, while simultaneously reducing the pressure on emergency accommodation resources.

The ambitious vision driving this strategy is nothing less than the eventual elimination of homelessness across both districts. While acknowledging the scale of this challenge, the councils have set their sights on a future where everyone has access to “a safe and stable place to call home”—recognizing this as both a basic human right and a foundation for community wellbeing. This aspiration reflects a profound shift in how homelessness is conceptualized: not as an inevitable social condition to be managed, but as a solvable problem that demands coordinated action across multiple fronts. Through their comprehensive approach encompassing prevention, accommodation, long-term housing solutions, and systems improvement, Broadland and South Norfolk Councils have positioned themselves at the forefront of innovative responses to the housing crisis. Their joint strategy represents not just a blueprint for local action but potentially a model for how rural and suburban districts across the UK might tackle one of the most pressing social challenges of our time.