The Council has joined a pioneering network to tackle homelessness
Essex County Council has joined a new multiple local authority network to support local government innovators across the UK to tackle homelessness. The Centre for Homelessness Impact has created the What Works Community to support local authorities to improve their response to homelessness issues using robust evidence and data.
The What Works Community will provide a space for leading councils to develop ideas, network with peers, and receive world-class guidance on improving their homelessness service.
The participating local authorities will benefit from expert assisted learning from the fields of behavioural insights, design thinking, and data-informed decision-making. As well as the Centre for Homelessness Impact, they will receive training and resources from Johns Hopkins University, the Behavioural Insights Team, and IDEO.
“By working together, sharing best practice, resources and expertise we can make a real difference to tackling the problems of homelessness and the causes of homelessness in Essex.” ~ Cllr John Spence, Cabinet Member for Health & Adult Social Care
The Community is the first of its kind in the UK and follows a successful pilot programme run in 2019/20.
Cllr John Spence, Cabinet Member for Health & Adult Social Care, said: “We are excited to be joining the What Works Community to collaborate with other innovative local authorities on this important issue. By working together, sharing best practice, resources and expertise we can make a real difference to tackling the problems of homelessness and the causes of homelessness in Essex.”
Dr Ligia Teixeira, CEO of the Centre for Homelessness Impact, added: “I am delighted to welcome all of the local authorities into the latest What Works Community cohort. By joining the programme they are showing a true dedication to effective problem solving and improving outcomes for everyone in their communities. The needs of local authorities are as diverse as the communities they represent and we’re excited to be working with a variety of new councils who bring unique challenges to the table. What they all have in common is their commitment to improving the lives of their citizens and an understanding that making more effective use of data and evidence can aid them in their goals.”