The council's attempts to shorten the length of time homeless people have to wait for permanent housing are admirable.

But with a distinct shortage of housing across the borough, the new system will go only a short way to deal with the problem. Greater measures need to be taken to offer affordable and social housing evenly across the borough. As well as proposals for one and two-bedroom flats, it would be extremely helpful for more developments to cater for families. The community also needs to get behind the attempts to support those in dire need of housing.