Homelessness

Dorset Council and its partners are strengthening efforts to ensure every known rough sleeper in Dorset has access to safe accommodation by Christmas, as part of a programme designed to help people move away from the streets and into longer term housing.

Council pledges safe accommodation for every known rough sleeper by Christmas

Christchurch Support Kabin

Christchurch Support Kabin

Christchurch charity launches fundraising appeal to support rough sleepers

Hope HTS CEO Julie Bert (third from left) and Hope residents at the building which is been turned from long-term empty to safe accommodation for formerly homeless people.

Hope HTS CEO Julie Bert (third from left) and Hope residents at the building which is been turned from long-term empty to safe accommodation for formerly homeless people.

Bournemouth charity turns empty building into accommodation for homeless people

Young people from Scout and Guide groups in Dorset swapped tents for cardboard shelters on October 9 as YMCA Bournemouth’s Cardboard Jamboree returned to Butchers Coppice for night of friendship, adventure and support for people experiencing

Young people from Scout and Guide groups in Dorset swapped tents for cardboard shelters on October 9 as YMCA Bournemouth’s Cardboard Jamboree returned to Butchers Coppice for night of friendship, adventure and support for people experiencing

Dorset Scouts swap tents for cardboard shelters to raise homelessness awareness

New Forest District Council (NFDC) has launched a strategy to prevent homelessness, support people at risk, and help residents find secure accommodation.

New Forest District Council (NFDC) has launched a strategy to prevent homelessness, support people at risk, and help residents find secure accommodation.

New strategy launched to tackle homelessness and rough sleeping in New Forest

The School Sleep Easy initiative, organised by YMCA Bournemouth, has raised an average of around £75,000 each year for the past five years.

The School Sleep Easy initiative, organised by YMCA Bournemouth, has raised an average of around £75,000 each year for the past five years.

YMCA Bournemouth's School Sleep Easy challenge raised more than £78,000 in 2025

Deano Pickering, Chief Executive of HealthBus Trust, and Dr Gareth Sherwood DL, Chief Executive of YMCA Bournemouth, joined Tom Hayes MP to meet Florence Eshalomi MP, Homelessness Minister, and discuss tackling homelessness and rough sleeping.

Deano Pickering, Chief Executive of HealthBus Trust, and Dr Gareth Sherwood DL, Chief Executive of YMCA Bournemouth, joined Tom Hayes MP to meet Florence Eshalomi MP, Homelessness Minister, and discuss tackling homelessness and rough sleeping.

Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole to get £4.7 million to tackle homelessness

The NEON scheme is working alongside Homewards, which was founded by Prince William and The Royal Foundation

The NEON scheme is working alongside Homewards, which was founded by Prince William and The Royal Foundation

Children and young people

BCP businesses and Prince William initiative take action to prevent homelessness

Action for Children's Dorset Nightstop service is appealing for new volunteer hosts and drivers after seeing an increase in the number of young people referred for support across Dorset.

Action for Children's Dorset Nightstop service is appealing for new volunteer hosts and drivers after seeing an increase in the number of young people referred for support across Dorset.

Young people facing homelessness need more volunteer hosts in BCP and Dorset

YMCA Bournemouth is calling on former pupils across Dorset to reconnect with their school communities and support a new campaign helping local people experiencing homelessness.

YMCA Bournemouth is calling on former pupils across Dorset to reconnect with their school communities and support a new campaign helping local people experiencing homelessness.

Charity calls on former pupils to 'Back Your School' to help tackle homelessness

Organisations working with young people are among those who could benefit from Dorset Community Foundation’s BCP Homelessness Prevention Fund

Organisations working with young people are among those who could benefit from Dorset Community Foundation’s BCP Homelessness Prevention Fund

Grants up to £30,000 from DCF and BCP Council to support homelessness prevention

Tom Hayes MP with BCHA's floating support team on a recent visit

Tom Hayes MP with BCHA's floating support team on a recent visit

Bournemouth MP welcomes drive to get rough sleepers off the streets by Christmas

Dorset Council’s Key4Me scheme has supported 100 households into private rented homes since the start of 2026, offering tenants greater housing stability and reducing reliance on temporary accommodation.

Dorset Council’s Key4Me scheme has supported 100 households into private rented homes since the start of 2026, offering tenants greater housing stability and reducing reliance on temporary accommodation.

Dorset landlord scheme continues to help households access private rented homes

Thanks to a generous £10,000 grant from The Roger Raymond Charitable Trust, YMCA Bournemouth has been able to help people who have experienced homelessness take important steps towards a more secure and independent future.

Thanks to a generous £10,000 grant from The Roger Raymond Charitable Trust, YMCA Bournemouth has been able to help people who have experienced homelessness take important steps towards a more secure and independent future.

£10,000 grant helps people in Bournemouth rebuild their lives after homelessness

Changing Lives launches Around the World Challenge to raise £249,000 to help end homelessness

Changing Lives launches Around the World Challenge to raise £249,000 to help end homelessness

Homelessness charity launches 24,901-mile Around the World Challenge

Action for Children

Dorset woman who opened her home to young people facing homelessness wins award

Over 100 people attended Hope HTS Open Day.

Over 100 people attended Hope HTS Open Day.

Charity celebrates 17 years of helping Bournemouth’s homeless people off the streets

Bryan Taylor of Bh2 Leisure and Amy Foster of Bee Mission

Bryan Taylor of Bh2 Leisure and Amy Foster of Bee Mission

Bournemouth-based charity lands major partnership with Bh2 Leisure

Prevention and early intervention are set to be key themes in Dorset Council’s new Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy, which will be going out to a full public consultation later this year.

Prevention and early intervention are set to be key themes in Dorset Council’s new Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy, which will be going out to a full public consultation later this year.

Dorset Council updating its Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy

A new volunteer mentor scheme is being launched by BCP Council to support people moving on from homelessness, and local residents are being encouraged to get involved.

A new volunteer mentor scheme is being launched by BCP Council to support people moving on from homelessness, and local residents are being encouraged to get involved.

BCP Council launches scheme to help people rebuild their lives after homelessness

Sue Forward, 80, centre, with Lucy Fatania, Assistant to the CEO, and some of the residents supported by the Hope HTS charity.

Sue Forward, 80, centre, with Lucy Fatania, Assistant to the CEO, and some of the residents supported by the Hope HTS charity.

Hope Housing, Training & Support

80-year-old cyclist to fund bike project for homeless people in Bournemouth

Jon Austin (left) and Natalie O’Hara (right) from Nicholas O’Hara Funeral Directors with Hope HTS Director of Services Lisa Everett (centre).

Jon Austin (left) and Natalie O’Hara (right) from Nicholas O’Hara Funeral Directors with Hope HTS Director of Services Lisa Everett (centre).

Homeless people in Dorset given help and dignity by new community fund

Generous support has enabled the Salvation Army branch in Winton to serve 323 free meals to people experiencing rough sleeping already this year, along with bathing facilities, foot care, sleeping bags, and clothing to vulnerable members of the

Generous support has enabled the Salvation Army branch in Winton to serve 323 free meals to people experiencing rough sleeping already this year, along with bathing facilities, foot care, sleeping bags, and clothing to vulnerable members of the

Salvation Army branch in Dorset has served more than 300 free meals this year

Year 12 students at Bryanston School slept out on the school’s floodlit astroturf on Friday, May 1, raising £3,000 for YMCA Bournemouth through the school’s fifth annual 'Sleep Easy' fundraiser.

Year 12 students at Bryanston School slept out on the school’s floodlit astroturf on Friday, May 1, raising £3,000 for YMCA Bournemouth through the school’s fifth annual 'Sleep Easy' fundraiser.

Dorset students sleep outside to raise funds for homelessness charity

A team of ten from Barratt David Wilson Homes set up camp and braved the cold

A team of ten from Barratt David Wilson Homes set up camp and braved the cold

Royal British Veterans Enterprise

Construction team trades hard hats for sleeping bags to raise £5,000 for charity

Some of the dogs and their owners who took part in the Hope & Hounds dog walk

Some of the dogs and their owners who took part in the Hope & Hounds dog walk

Bournemouth Pier

Dogs and their owners raise over £1000 in Bournemouth pier to pier charity walk

Councillor Steve Davies, Portfolio Holder for Housing and Homelessness.

Councillor Steve Davies, Portfolio Holder for Housing and Homelessness.

Residents in New Forest invited to provide feedback on homelessness strategy

Mork and Mindy, Kim’s much‑loved dogs, who have now moved with her into a permanent home thanks to support from BCP Council and StreetVet.

Mork and Mindy, Kim’s much‑loved dogs, who have now moved with her into a permanent home thanks to support from BCP Council and StreetVet.

Woman sleeping rough with two dogs turns life around after help from BCP Council

Formerly homeless residents arriving at Hope will receive starter packs to help them get back on track thanks to a donation from The Cherries Community Fund.

Formerly homeless residents arriving at Hope will receive starter packs to help them get back on track thanks to a donation from The Cherries Community Fund.

AFC Bournemouth

AFC Bournemouth community fund donates money to local charity

The HealthBus made its way to Parliament.

The HealthBus made its way to Parliament.

HealthBus Trust

Bournemouth mobile health clinic supporting rough sleepers visits Parliament

Rough sleeping in the UK.

Rough sleeping in the UK.

Rough sleeper numbers fall across Dorset in 2025 despite overall rise in UK

New research from leading youth homelessness charity Centrepoint has found 123,934 young people faced homelessness across the U.K. in 2024/25.

New research from leading youth homelessness charity Centrepoint has found 123,934 young people faced homelessness across the U.K. in 2024/25.

Youth homelessness

Almost 124,000 young people in the UK faced homelessness last year

Funding boost aims to help families in temporary accommodation stay afloat

Funding boost aims to help families in temporary accommodation stay afloat

Extra £2.2m to tackle homelessness and rough sleeping in BCP

Volunteers need for a charity

Volunteers need for a charity

Homeless services need volunteers urgently

Poster for the Hidden Dorset report

Poster for the Hidden Dorset report

Dorset Community Foundation launches online report into need and disadvantage

The Well Coffee Lounge in Boscombe

The Well Coffee Lounge in Boscombe

Meet the cafe owner providing a women's only group to support vulnerable women

Advertising Feature

Centrepoint is hiring for a brand new service in Bournemouth

St Stephen's Church Hall in Bournemouth

St Stephen's Church Hall in Bournemouth

Council axed buying church hall after failing to find homeless hub operator