I am pleased The Argus continues to highlight the challenges of homelessness.

Figures can be quoted and challenged, but behind the facts are real people who have experienced loss or are tramatised but who have hopes, fears and aspirations for a better future.

The reality is that in the South-East, we have a chronic housing shortage. Of course, there is no simple answer, such as merely providing more houses (although that is essential) and creative solutions are required for complex problems.

For example, Brighton Housing Trust provides a range of measures aimed at preventing and ending homelessness. These include advice services, day services and specialist residential projects addressing issues from addiction to mental ill health.

Last year, we prevented 2,462 individuals or households from becoming homeless or requiring help from Brighton and Hove City Council - resulting in huge savings for taxpayers.

Our Brighton Advice Centre and First Base Day Centre help, on average, 200 households each year to relocate to 75 other towns in the country.

Yet more still needs to be done because the numbers are not reducing. The trust believes that a more effective regional and national response is needed because this is not something which Brighton and Hove can resolve on its own.

-Andy Winter, chief executive, Brighton Housing Trust, Brighton