A STRATEGY to stem the town's growing tide of homelessness - which has seen 68 per cent more cases identified in just four years - has been drawn up by housing agencies.

All homeless applicants, whom the borough council has a duty to rehouse, will have access to the housing register under the new approach, mirroring the current choice based lettings programme operating in Orford.

This would also apply to homeless people currently housed in temporary accommodation, giving displaced families access to secure tenancies and greater protection from eviction.

In 1999/2000, the number of applicants recognised as homeless was 273 - but this had shot up to 448 by 2002/2003.

The largest causes of homelessness are still family breakdowns and domestic violence, with the number of teenage runaways rising significantly.

Another pressure on the housing outlook in Warrington is the lack of council housing stock and properties run by registered social landlords.

With vacancies running at just 2.3 per cent, this places the town second bottom, compared to the 43 other north west housing authorities.

Research by homeless charity Shelter has also shown that the council's own housing advice service is heavily overstretched and under-funded.

Staff have the highest workload of any similar authority, and Shelter recommends that two extra officers should be taken on to remedy the problem.

The strategy, which echoes a pilot study drawn up last year, to meet provisions of the Homelessness Act 2002, has been endorsed by council departments, housing associations and health trusts, among others.

Clr Hans Mundry, the borough council's executive member for housing, said it was vital that the strategy was in place because the council faced financial penalties from the Government if it wasn't.

He added: "We needed to find out what provision is needed and how many vulnerable people are not having their needs met.

"At the moment we are an above-average authority but there is always room for improvement."