Officials are looking to buy temporary accommodation for rough sleepers and a resettlement home for Afghan refugees.
Officials are looking to buy temporary accommodation for rough sleepers and a resettlement home for Afghan refugees, writes Local Democracy Reporter Oliver Castle.
Members of South Holland District Council’s (SHDC) cabinet have agreed that the authority should take part in a Government programme which will see it accept £345,000 to secure two temporary accommodation homes to address local homelessness and one property to support Afghan resettlement.
The Government money will go towards the near-£850,000 bill.
At a meeting on Tuesday, June 30, portfolio holder for strategic and operational housing, Tracey Carter said: “This is a programme that the council has supported successfully through previous rounds and has already enabled South Holland to bring 14 homes into council ownership. This helps to reduce reliance on costly B&B and hotel accommodation, while creating long-term housing assets for the authority, with all properties being available for wider permanent or temporary accommodation usage in the long-term.”
Coun Carter explained that the resettlement home will be specifically for households who have arrived in the UK legally through the Government sponsored Afghan resettlement scheme for their role in supporting UK efforts there.
She said she hoped the homes would be up and running by next March adding: “By securing this funding, we will increase the number of homes available to meet local housing needs, we will improve outcomes for vulnerable residents and we will have reduced ongoing revenue pressures associated with emergency accommodation.”
SHDC leader Nick Worth backed the scheme and said it would help to reduce the costs of expensive hotels.
“I think this is a bit of a no-brainer from my point of view. It’s certainly making a big impact on our reduction in B&Bs – so that’s good news as well. It gives our local people real opportunities – so it’s a win-win situation.”
SHDC said it estimates the total project to deliver these three properties will cost approximately £849,477 – and because the Government funding is capped at £345,000, the authority is seeking to allocate £534,477 from its capital fund to cover the costs.
The council will now put forward its bid to enter round four of the Local Authority Housing Fund (LAHF) – and will develop a plan on how this money will be spent and identify suitable buildings for this accommodation.
