NEWS that the number of rough sleepers in Worcester has doubled has prompted Malvern councillors to implement a new plan on homelessness.

Councillors heard the number of rough sleepers in the city had doubled from 12 to 24.

They agreed a new plan to prevent homelessness in the town in a bid to stop a similar increase.

The decision to approve the plan was taken at the full meeting of Malvern Hills District Council on Tuesday night and it lays out a new framework for preventing homelessness.

The plan, put forward by Councillor David Watkins, portfolio holder for housing and communities, has three main aims:

To prevent homelessness at a much earlier stage by targeting groups that are more vulnerable to becoming homeless.

To provide flexible and comprehensive responses to those in crisis and those with complex needs.

To improve the supply of and access to good quality, affordable and supported housing over the next three years.

Cllr Watkins said: “This plan sets out high-level action to prevent homelessness at a much earlier stage. The fact is that this is something which all district councils are facing and rest assured we will do what we need to do.”

This new plan comes after the death of bus shelter-dwelling homeless man Remigiusz, known as ‘Rem’, who was born in Poland and is believed to have taken his own life on October 30, aged 40. Rem lived in the bus shelter in Wells Road, Malvern, and one of his friends says she believes his parents have arranged to repatriate him.

A friend of Rem said he had been offered places in shelters in the past, but due to mental health issues preferred to live alone.

At the meeting, councillors voted unanimously in favour of adopting the measures as part of the Worcestershire Strategic Direction for Tackling Homelessness 2018 -2021.

A council spokesman said: “We will ensure the strategy is properly funded through either existing budgets or we will look to access additional funding if needed.