South Holland District Council has paid nearly £360,000 in 12 months to keep homeless people off the streets.
In the most recent data available, in the 12 months preceding May 2022 a total of £358,715 was paid out for 493 bed and breakfast rooms for those who would otherwise be sleeping rough in the district.
Of that figure, 69 per cent, £248,069.02 was provided for people to stay in the Anglia Motel in Fleet.
Motel owner Harold Payne said the council choose which rooms to pay for.
He also said that for the money the family ran business receive, they only believe it equated to £770 a week profit over the entire 30 rooms.
“The government said the council have to do it and we’re the only ones available to take them in,” he said. “They ring at 8pm, 10pm, even 2am in the middle of the night saying ‘can you take this person in’ and we’re there to do it.
“We’re doing a service for the community as far as I’m concerned. It’s either they come to us or they’re on the streets.
“It was also vital for the business during the lockdown. I was about £1m down on takings so I don’t know where we’d be without that council money.”
South Holland District Council says it uses a number of providers, but the Anglia Motel is the main one,
A spokesman said this was due to the different room types it has, its open bookings policy and value for money.
It’s location on the A17 being on the 505 bus route and being near to Holbeach was also a reason and because of its staff.
“Staff at the motel are very understanding of the wide variety of circumstances our clients present in and have regularly surpassed the expectations of an accommodation provider in respect of the level of support provided,” the spokesman continued. “Homelessness accommodation is funded from the council’s core budget.
“While the council does receive grant funding from central government for homelessness, this cannot be used to pay for temporary accommodation.
“Over the last 12 months, the council has committed £1.5 million to provide accommodation for single homeless households, £675,000 of which came from grant funding which the council were successful in bidding for.
“Further opportunities are regularly explored to leverage in additional funding to assist with appropriate housing solutions for our clients.”
Coun Christine Lawton, Portfolio Holder for Housing for South Holland District Council said: “I am very proud of this council’s track record in helping some of our most vulnerable in society access temporary accommodation.
“Even if there’s just one person without secure accommodation having to sleep on the streets tonight, that’s one too many.
“We have a commitment to end rough sleeping in this district and through the investment the council has made, we intend to see this commitment become a reality.”
