Herefordshire is getting nearly £1.4 million more to buy up and manage properties to house young people at risk of homelessness.
The council has accepted a government grant of £910,000, which it will match-fund with cash from the NHS-backed Better Care Fund along with so-called section 106 levies on developers.
It will use this to buy “a minimum of ten” properties on the open market, up to a maximum per property of £157,000.
RELATED NEWS:
- Hereford library, museum, bypass and gritter fleet... latest update
- How many in Herefordshire will lose winter fuel payments
- Herefordshire heading for budget overspend of millions - again
The council also accepted a further revenue grant from the government of £478,615, “for dedicated support workers and associated services”.
The spending will address the gaps in homelessness for vulnerable people aged 18-25 in the county, the council’s decision said, pointing out that it has a duty to house those who are unintentionally homeless.
The properties will serve as “transitional” housing, the council said, “which is a stepping-stone towards independent living and reduces the risk of homelessness and rough sleeping”.
What are your thoughts?
You can send a letter to the editor to have your say by clicking here.
Letters should not exceed 250 words and local issues take precedence.
The council is currently acquiring what will be its eighth such property in the county, for what it says is “below the market value” at £148,500, but did not give further details.
An update on the council’s delivery plan published last month said that in addition to the eight already secured, it had made offers on a further six properties.
OTHER NEWS:
- Progress promised on multi-storey car park plan for Hereford
- Conservative MP Jesse Norman blasts Robert Jenrick's "tripe" speech
- The candidates vying to replace Ellie Chowns in Herefordshire
It aims to buy 15 properties overall in the current financial year, “specifically for young people aged 18-25 identified at risk of homelessness”, its update said.
The council’s rough sleeper outreach team “continually engage with our rough sleepers and actively support them to source accommodation”, it added.
Herefordshire Council is trying to rein in spending on temporary accommodation in the county, having spent over £3 million in the financial year to April on “Travelodge/ B&B style accommodation” along with nearly £400,000 on private rentals.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here