COUNCILLORS are stepping up their efforts to get homeless people off the streets.
Erewash Borough Council approved a new strategy for homelessness in town such as Long Eaton and Ilkeston.
Among the aims is a pledge to make sure no one sleeps rough for more than a night.
Other objectives include ensuring no 16 or 17-year-olds are referred to bread and breakfast and encouraging private landlords to provide emergency accommodation.
Erewash Borough Council leader Councillor Chris Corbett said it was crucial to have a clear and focused approach to homelessness.
He said: "We need to have this framework in place to guide the way we tackle the problems of homelessness and, most importantly, reach out to and help those less fortunate than ourselves.
"Here in Erewash we have very strong partnership working that has developed over many years and continues to build on the drive to tackle homelessness in the borough.
Organisations like the Canaan Trust, which already provide accommodation and support in areas including Long Eaton, have been involved in the strategy's development.
Canaan Trust director Kevin Curtis said he believed that Erewash Borough Council had been very progressive in its approach to homelessness.
He said: "We have had contact with a number of authorities and I have to say that Erewash Borough Council is one of the more caring and proactive.
"Quite often Erewash is having, to particularly in the case of under 18s, step in because social care from other authorities have not played their part."
Simon Griffin, 38, of Briar Gate, Long Eaton, was left homeless after he separated from his wife.
He said: "I was homeless last year, I was sleeping in a car and a police officer came to check I was ok.
"I had mental issues and couldn't cope, I didn't want to be around people.
Simon said he thought the council's suggestions were a good idea but that more still needed to be done.
"It sounds great, people no matter what they're circumstances should never sleep out on the street."
"I think the council have got it all covered but there's got to be more support for problems like mental health.
"I had no reason to carry on going and the Canaan Trust turned me round. The support is so important."
