THERE were no people sleeping rough long-term in the Forest of Dean last year.

And no families facing a housing crisis in the district had to be put up in bed and breakfast accommodation beyond the six-week legal limit.

The annual review of the council’s approach to homelessness has shown “substantial progress” in all its priorities, the council’s Cabinet was told.

This includes continued early intervention, and tenancy sustainment work, better use of data in case reviews, stronger partnership working, increased landlord engagement, and a successful operation of specialist accommodation initiatives.

The council has maintained zero long term rough sleeping, and has avoided placing families in bed and breakfast accommodation beyond six weeks.

Successful prevention and relief outcomes are also above the national average.

Leader of the council Cllr Adrian Birch (Green, Tidenham) said: “These are positive achievements in a challenging housing environment.”

Earlier this year, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government introduced new expectations for local authorities receiving Homelessness Prevention Grant funding.

Local authorities are now expected to publish

action plans demonstrating how they will improve against six national

homelessness and rough sleeping measures.

The review of the council's existing Preventing Homelessness Action Plan 2025–2030 found most of them were already being done in the Forest.

The proportion of families with children in temporary accommodation per 1,000 household is 0.13 compared with 3.51 nationally.

The Forest rate at which homelessness is prevented is 59 per cent compared with 49 per cent across England.

The aim is to increase that to 62 per cent by 2028.

Over the same period the council aims to reduce the number of people sleeping rough on a single night from three to one.

The council also wants to maintain the number of long-term rough sleepers and families in bed and breakfast for more than six weeks at zero.