HOMELESSNESS should have been consigned to the past.

No one should be without a roof over their head these days in what is one of the world's richest countries.

But it is a sad fact that some people are still homeless.

The problem in Blackburn and Burnley is nowhere near as bad as some of the country's major towns and cities.

In Liverpool, Manchester and even Preston you only have to go a short distance in the city centres at night time before you see a homeless person.

Figures from the North West Regional Assembly say that homelessness dropped by eight per cent in Blackburn and 33 per cent in Burnley.

These show that the problem, which can be extremely complicated, is being tackled.

This week the assembly, through the Regional Housing Board, is launching the Regional Homelessness Strategy.

The board wants to gain an understanding of homelessness across the region and put a plan in place to deal with it.

Hopefully this should further help to ensure that measures are put in place to help people if they find themselves without a home.

Just one homeless person is too many in this day and age.

Let's hope this problem can eventually be solved once and for all.