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Funding boost for those in housing need

Funding boost for those in housing need

 

Arun District Council’s Cabinet has agreed to recommend to Full Council the allocation of up to £80,000 of additional funding provision for Bed and Breakfast accommodation for those at risk of homelessness. The council had originally set aside £360,000 funding for B&B to support homelessness.

At a meeting of the Cabinet on Monday 16 January 2017, a report was heard that explained that as a Local Authority, Arun District Council has a statutory obligation to home homeless people when they are: eligible for public funds; have some sort of connection to the area; can prove that they are not intentionally homeless; and can prove that they have a priority need.

The incidence of homelessness in Arun currently shows no signs of overall reduction. This is in line with both county and national trends. In England, since bottoming out in 2010/11, homeless placements in temporary accommodation have risen sharply, with the overall national total rising by 12% in the year to 30 June 2015. There are many reasons that somebody might become homeless, but the main reasons include; eviction, parental eviction and relationship breakdown, with street homelessness also starting to become a more notable factor.

Councillor Trevor Bence, Arun District Council’s Cabinet Member for Housing, said: “Fluctuations in demand for Bed and Breakfast accommodation make budgeting for this provision challenging. “Arun District Council continues to take steps to address the situation, working closely with other authorities who face similar challenges at the moment.

“The Council has invested in additional temporary accommodation with the development of six flats in Bognor Regis a few years ago and investigations are underway to see if further suitable accommodation could be acquired by the Council. These steps help to reduce the financial impact Bed and Breakfast accommodation has.”

The recommendation will be considered at the Full Council meeting on 8 March 2017.