MOVES to boost affordable housing and fight homelessness come under the spotlight at a major conference in Dorchester tomorrow.

More than 120 representatives from organisations such as councils, builders, housing associations and charities are to attend the housing conference at the Corn Exchange.

They will hear of West Dorset District Council's housing needs survey and the first results of its homelessness review.

Councillor Molly Rennie, who is a member of the district council's housing scrutiny group, said: "Health and housing issues go together.

"There is no point in the district council collecting rubbish, providing the leisure centre and carrying out other tasks if people don't have a decent roof over their heads.

"It is important that people work together to make sure we have the best housing we can in the district."

Delegates at the conference will also come from community groups, social services and the probation service.

Professor Mark Redmond from Bournemouth Univers-ity will present the findings of the West Dorset homelessness review which the university carried out for the council.

David Couttie from consultants David Couttie Associates will also present the council's housing needs survey which found greater need for affordable homes and accommodation for frail elderly people.

Delegates will split into workshops to discuss affordable housing, homelessness, housing needs and private sector housing.

The conference comes amid calls for more affordable housing in West Dorset and after the government withdrew the allocation of Local Authority Social Housing Grant money from councils.

Now this money - which councils used to distribute to housing associations to build new homes - will be dished out regionally.

Coun Rennie said groups and organisations had to work in partnership to make sure West Dorset won its fair share and find other ways of meeting housing demands.

She added: "I hope that more people will support the need for affordable housing and work together to help achieve it.

"We may also need to find other creative ways to evolve social housing in the area."

The district council hopes to use feedback from the annual conference as consultation for its housing strategy and homelessness review.