HOMELESSNESS in the Faithful City is being tackled head-on at a special conference.

The one-day event is due to take place today and is hosted by the Worcester Alliance.

The Alliance brings together representatives from the city and county councils, the health service, the police, local businesses, the probation service, Worcestershire Racial Equality Council, local trade unions and the voluntary sector.

The aim of the conference, at Perdiswell Young People's Leisure Club, in Worcester, is to start work on a review of current services available in the city for homeless people.

It will also look at new ways to tackle homelessness by improving partnership working between organisations, with the aim of preventing people from becoming homeless.

"The Worcester Alliance is aware that good quality housing plays a key role in people's lives," said Councillor Stephen Inman, chairman of the Worcester Alliance and leader of Worcester City Council.

"We recognize that homelessness and its consequences can impact on everyone in the city."

The number of families registered as homeless last year in Worcester was 689.

Of these, 244 were found to be "priority need" and almost 60 per cent (144) of those had dependent children.

Kathryn Robb, housing services manager at Worcester City Council, said achieving effective partnership working would be the key to the success of any homelessness strategy.

"This event is the first stage in developing a comprehensive strategy that will improve the services available locally for homeless people," she said.