DARLINGTON Council has become the first local authority in the country to sign a ground-breaking agreement to prevent and counter homelessness.

The council will work with Darlington Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) and local housing charity First Stop Darlington to help prevent homelessness and support people who find themselves homeless.

Under the terms of the agreement, the agencies will provide early advice, assistance and support to those at risk of homelessness; pre-crisis intervention for those at imminent risk of becoming homeless; and advice and support for those who are homeless.

The agreement also commits the council, Citizens Advice and First Stop to working together to prevent recurring homelessness by helping people secure long-term accommodation.

The agreement is based on a model developed by Citizens Advice and Shelter - under the banner of the National Homelessness Advice Service (NHAS) - for joint working between local authorities and independent advice agencies.

Before the agreement was signed, the council had been working informally with First Stop and Citizens Advice to help prevent homelessness and advise on housing issues.

Councillor Bill Dixon, the council's cabinet member for neighbourhood services and community safety, said: "We want to ensure we have the best services possible in Darlington for people at risk of becoming homeless, or who are homeless.

This agreement sets out how we and our voluntary sector partners will work closely together to provide more effective services for vulnerable people."

Tracy Freeman, project manager, First Stop Darlington said: "The three agencies have worked together informally for some considerable time on the important issue of homeless prevention and providing information, advice, support and guidance to people on housing issues.

This new model of joint working is an extension of our commitment to providing the best support we can to the people of Darlington who need good information and advice when they are at risk of losing their home, or they are in need of a place to call home."

Mike Hill, chief executive of Darlington Citizens Advice Bureau, said: "By agreeing to this strategy, we can help more people more quickly and minimise the misery that homelessness would bring."