COUNCIL chiefs have vowed to eradicate rough sleeping on streets across the borough.

Dudley Council's housing boss has set out ambitious plans to tackle homelessness by focusing on preventative measures to tackle the problems that can cause people to lose their home.

A new dedicated telephone number has been launched for people to report anyone they are concerned about who may be sleeping rough and to get help and advice.

People can call 0300 555 0030 and any reports will be dealt with by the council’s homeless team.

Councillor Keiran Casey, cabinet member for housing and residents welfare, said: "Homelessness is a complex issue and while we recognise that every individual’s circumstances are different, there are often common factors, which can lead to someone sleeping rough.

"We take these issues extremely seriously and our focus has and will continue to be about prevention, ensuring that working with some of the great organisations we have locally, that people have the help and support they need so that there is never a need to resort to sleeping rough on our streets.

"However, we know that for various reasons people do find themselves sleeping rough and there has undoubtedly been a shocking increase in rough sleepers across the UK in the past nine years, so it's our job to ensure that they have the help and support they need straight away.

"The new strategy being launched is one that sets out clearly the preventative measures we want to see put in place to prevent homelessness, but also sets out what we want to do, working together with partners to ensure help and support is available for anyone that does find themselves sleeping rough. One of the most important things included in this new strategy is ensuring that anyone sleeping rough, but also local residents and businesses have the information about the help and support that is available, that's why we wanted to make sure we had a dedicated hotline for help and advice.

"The key message with this strategy is to ensure that people have the help and support needed at the crucial time to stop further problems and sets out our ambition to have zero rough sleepers in our borough."

Emergency accommodation for rough sleepers and other single homeless people is provided in Dudley by Midland Heart at Saltbrook Place. This provision is in place all year round and Saltbrook Place has helped 120 people in this way over the past year.