Kerrier District Council to share best practice on tackling homelessness » Housing » 24dash.com

Tackling homelessness throughout Devon and Cornwall has been given a boost thanks to Kerrier District Council sharing its best practice skills with other local authorities.

Kerrier District Council’s Homelessness Strategy & Performance Manager, Cathy Hadfield, a regional champion for tackling homelessness, was approached by the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) to become a specialist advisor for the south west.

The Specialist Advisor works closely with the DCLG to help them achieve their aims in tackling homelessness, spreading best practice and focuses on other local authorities meeting national targets.

The target is to reduce the use of temporary accommodation by 50% by 2010; this target was met by Kerrier in June 2007.

Councillor N.H Hatton, Portfolio Holder for Housing, said: “Cathy has taken on this advisory role on a voluntary basis, in additional to her usual duties at Kerrier, showing her commitment to homelessness in the southwest.

"It’s a tremendous confidence boost for Kerrier and for Cathy in this important area of tackling homelessness. The recognition she has been given to advise CLG is a really commendable achievement. ”

Cathy is doing this work in addition to her role at Kerrier District Council, for one year from April 2008.