A 'BROAD and compassionate' plan to tackle homelessness has been demanded by campaigners as new measures are introduced to stop people finding themselves out on the streets.

The Families First project, recently approved by West Oxfordshire District Council, will work with families and couples at risk of homelessness in an attempt to prevent people losing the roof over their heads.

People in the community who have faced problems with housing have praised the scheme, but called on the council to be more ambitious in its approach to the issue.

The district council approved the Families First initiative in response to a rise in less-traditional causes of homelessness.

New figures show that between April 1, 2015 and March 31, 2017, of 106 homelessness applications received by the council, 42 per cent were due to parents or relatives no longer being willing to accommodate adult children, while a further 21 per cent were a result relationships breaking down.

The council said both these reasons had increased in the past two years, but did not give figures on how much they had increased by.

The project will employ a dedicated officer to work with families where there is a risk of homelessness occurring.

Funding will be provided for counselling and possible accommodation adaptations to allow different generations to share property more comfortably.

Deborah Robson-Grey, of Welch Way, Witney, founded Homes4All, a support group for homeless people, last winter after seeing people camping out in the town in sub-zero temperatures and learning of many others struggling to find accommodation.

One of the key problems that Ms Robson-Grey and her group seek to highlight is that homelessness is more complex than rough sleepers.

Many of the people Homes4All supports and identifies as homeless are ‘sofa surfing’ – residing with a rotation of friends and family – or struggling to find suitable accommodation through the council and housing associations.

Sallie Walker-Hatt, 58, is living in private accommodation off Corn Street in Witney after failing to find appropriate housing through the council.

Several years ago her health began to deteriorate and a bowel condition now means she has to be fed artificially.

The process means she has special requirements when it comes to housing, including a sterile room where she can be fed.

She sought housing through the district council and was disappointed to discover the process wasn’t what she expected.

She said: “They offered me a bungalow which wasn’t suitable because a room couldn’t be made sterile.

“But they end up using the fact you don't want to take the property against you and it de-values your application.

“I ended up feeling a lack of self-worth because I don’t want to be a burden.

"There are times I feel I’d rather not be here.”

In her current situation, Ms Walker-Hatt is frequently struck down by infections that she puts down to her living conditions.

Ms Robson-Grey said: “We need to take some social responsibility and, where we can, shine a spotlight on these things.

“For me, a lot of these situations are down to bad practice."

She said the Families First scheme was positive in its educational approach, but feared it was not broad enough.

Jon Dearing, head of revenues and housing support at West Oxfordshire District Council, said: “Sometimes people bid on properties, are successful, but then they turn it down. Clearly, with accommodation (particularly disabled adapted property) being in such short supply we need to find out the reasons for refusal when this occurs.

"This does not, however, devalue their application and we (and Cottsway) have an invested interest in ensuring that people are in the right property for them and are happy in their new home.

"I have never been made aware (through the complaints process or any other channel) of `intimidation’. Our officers work closely with all clients to help meet their needs and we would never force a client into an unsuitable property.”

Families First will be funded by the Flexible Homelessness Support Grant, which the Government introduced on April 1 following the removal of the Temporary Accommodation Management Fee.

The council will receive £72,546 from the grant in 2017/18 and £83,471 in 2018/19.