THE borough's rate of preventing people from becoming homeless was the highest across Greater Manchester last year, according to new figures writes Local Democracy Reporters Alice Cachia and James Illingworth.  

The statistics have been released as the town hall launches its new strategy to tackle rough sleeping.

A new hub in Leigh has already opened its doors with a counterpart in Wigan scheduled to follow later this year.

Data from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government shows GM  has a homelessness prevention rate of 15.4 per 1,000 households.

Wigan borough had the highest prevention rate (34.3), while Salford had the lowest (3.4).

Homelessness prevention refers to "positive action taken by the local authority which provides someone, who considers themselves at risk of homelessness, with a solution for at least the next six months– either by enabling them to remain in their existing home or by assisting them in finding alternative accommodation."

According to the figures, in the borough a total of 3,620 households were helped to remain at home and a further 1,253 were found alternative accommodation.

Alternative accommodation can include stays in hostels as well as accommodation like social housing.

Of the 18,270 households prevented from being made homeless in 2017/18 in Greater Manchester, some 12,574 were able to remain in their home while 5,696 were helped to find alternative accommodation.

Cllr Terry Halliwell, cabinet member for housing and welfare at Wigan Council, said: “Prevention is always the best option to avoid people reaching a crisis point with their housing.

“We know that even being made homeless for a day can have a long lasting impact for those affected and through close working with our partners and being able to target those at risk it helps to reduce the demand for other services such as health and social care.

“We have brought in a range of measures to address homelessness and will continue to do all we can to help people live in their own home.”

Wigan Council’s new approach to tackling homelessness has received cabinet approval in recent weeks.

It will support work undertaken across the city region with mayor Andy Burnham pledging to end rough sleeping by 2020.

Vicky Bannister, assistant director for homes at Wigan Council said: “The recent opening of the accommodation and support hub in Leigh, and the development of a Wigan equivalent, demonstrates our commitment to supporting people and to addressing homelessness and rough sleeping in the borough.

“The hub has been utilised since opening and its aim is to offer temporary accommodation to help individuals rebuild their lives.

"Our local service is bespoke and looks at the reasons behind an individual’s rough sleeping."