Decision details

The Council has received a new Government Homelessness Support Grant. The report explains the purpose of the grant and sets out proposals to use the funding.

That the DCLG grant offer of £403,595 (2017/18) and £442,613(2018/19) and £491,515 be accepted.

The flexible homeless support grant is a ring fenced grant made available to councils to use on prevention activities and stop people having to stay in temporary accommodation for long periods of time if at all. Evidence has shown that we need to focus on early prevention work to shift the focus on prevention work at an earlier stage that are proactive before a crisis occurs. To stop the use of temporary accommodation we will need to offer help earlier and offer tailored advice for people who are at risk of homelessness. Evidence shows that a disproportionately high number of single people with physical and mental health concerns are accepted as homeless and we need to target this group for prevention work. Offering more tailored advice and early intervention will stop people being placed in temporary accommodation which is unsuitable for people and is associated with high costs.

No other options were considered as the grant is ring fenced to be used for homeless prevention activities.