Councillor Drew Hendry, Leader of The Highland Council, has praised the authority's Homeless Prevention team on its success to reduce homeless figures in the area.

Since the team's establishment in June 2011, it has achieved a 53% reduction in homeless presentations, as well as a 33% reduction in the use of temporary accommodation.

The figures were revealed by Councillor Hendry as he spoke at the Highland Homelessness conference in Nairn on Wednesday. He said that the team had worked with 4,269 households, recording a 65% "success" rate in terms of homeless presentations prevented.

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He added that savings were now funding a new supply of tailor-made council houses to meet temporary accommodation needs and the Council hoped to build an additional 200 homes by 2017.

Councillor Hendry continued: "Homelessness is mainly a product of a shortage of suitable, affordable housing. We have always argued that we need to build more houses in the Highlands to address homelessness. That is why we have an ambitious programme of Council house building. We are well on track to meet our target of building 688 new council houses by 2017.

"The Council has also committed to using the savings in temporary accommodation costs to fund new supply, which will increase our ability to meet temporary accommodation needs from our own stock. We will be building 200 additional homes by 2017."

(JP/MH)