The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has released its five-year plan to tackle the causes of homelessness.

So is there much new in this? There isn't much here that hasn't appeared before. If you sat down excitedly and read through January's 100-page Homes for All from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM) then you will have come across most of this. But this plan does bring together all the activity in this one area and links it to wider policy.

You're not suggesting it's been repackaged in advance of the election?

I couldn't possibly comment. Certainly this strategy does not shy away from pointing out successes of recent policy at every opportunity, such as the big fall in the number of rough sleepers and the reduction of families in bed-and-breakfast accommodation from 6,700 to 830 in just two years.

The main theme of this strategy is thus building on progress.

So what is the main message? As outlined in Homes for All, the Government is aiming to build more than a million new homes in the South and regenerate run-down, unwanted housing in the Midlands and the North. But this strategy focuses less on bricks and mortar and more on preventative measures.

How will this apply to young people? The ODPM will work with the Department for Education and Skills to ensure that children's trusts are able to tackle and prevent youth homelessness. Measures will include encouraging local authorities to develop a wider range of services for prevention that could include family mediation work and respite places in Foyers.

Increasing take-up of Education Maintenance Allowances and effective leaving-care strategies are also seen as important. Hostels, the Government promises, will cease to be a place of last resort but instead will become "centres of excellence".

What about those young people caught up as victims of domestic violence?

The plan involves an increase in the number and quality of refuge places and new "sanctuary" programmes that will provide extra security and support to help victims of domestic violence to stay safely in their own homes if they choose to.

What about the private sector? The plan acknowledges that some people want the flexibility of private renting, but the flip side of flexibility is insecurity. The Government wants to help broaden access through measures such as rent deposit schemes and to create security by accrediting landlords and providing services to resolve landlord and tenant disputes.

What about rural areas? The Housing Corporation is set to exceed its target of 4,000 new affordable homes in rural areas by 2006. There will be higher council tax charges on second homes and steps to enable local authorities to limit the resale of ex-council properties to local residents.

And support for local authorities to deliver? Money here and there, but there will be targeting of priority councils, road shows promoting best practice and help to implement and review local strategies.

FACT BOX

- Eviction by parents or other friends or family accounted for 38 per cent of homelessness in 2003-04

- In 2003-04 about 13 per cent of homelessness cases were linked to domestic violence

- Children who have experienced homelessness are up to 12 times more likely to appear on the child-protection register

- Estimates of the number of rough sleepers has declined from 1,850 in 1998 to 508 in 2004

- Sustainable Communities: Settled homes; changing lives is available from www.odpm.gov.uk.