Council scoops Gold Standard award for local homelessness services
Winchester City Council has become the first council in Hampshire and only the fifth in England to receive the Government’s prestigious ‘Gold standard’ award in recognition of its work in preventing and tackling all forms of homelessness.
The Government’s Gold Standard programme for housing options services is based on a national assessment framework that includes a ‘peer review’ of the authority’s front-line service and applications for each of the 10 local challenges. The programme is aimed at promoting good practice and ensuring services are fit for purpose.
Cllr Caroline Horrill, the City Council’s Leader and Portfolio Holder for Housing, said:
I would like to congratulate the team for their excellent performance. Winchester City Council Housing Options Service has demonstrated that early intervention is a cost-effective way of preventing homelessness, which is a key priority for the Council.
The award is not just about being awarded Gold status as an authority, it also shows that Winchester City Council provides a fit-for-purpose front-line housing service in collaboration with its key stakeholders.
Gillian Knight, Head of the Housing Options service, said:
I am very proud that the Housing Options service has been recognised in this way which is due to the continued dedication and hard work of the team in tackling the many issues of local homelessness on a daily basis.
The Council’s Housing Options team were presented with the Gold Standard award by Lindsay Megson, Head of Service at the National Practitioner Support Service.