TACKLING homelessness will be thrown open to public debate at a meeting of Bury Housing Forum next month.

Hannah Saunders, the policy advisor on National Delivery of Strategies for the Rough Sleepers Unit in London, will attend the event at Bury Town Hall.

Bury's Homelessness Forum chairman, Hayley Tyson, said: "We hope people will come along and have their say about the future role, structure and membership of the Homelessness Forum and also where they perceive we have gaps in the services we provide to homeless people.

"This will also be an opportunity to share views about the development of the borough's housing strategy."

Workshops will also be held, covering a range of topics surrounding homeless people from planning services to drug abuse, developing housing advice, resettlement and housing benefits issues.

Individuals or organisations interested in attending the event on Tuesday, April 3, from 9.30am to 1pm should contact Beryl Atkinson on 253 6076.