Stratford-on-Avon District Council's Cabinet has today, Monday 2 July, agreed a new policy to support residents who may be at risk of homelessness and enable the Council to deliver its obligations under the new Homelessness Reduction Act 2017 and has allocated £50,000 to be used this year (2018-19).
The policy - known as Housing Early Lifeline Payment (HELP) - will provide financial support to help residents either stay in their current home or secure new accommodation.
Funding will be provided to those needing to move to affordable accommodation, adjusting to benefit changes or in rent arrears. The money would be provided for up to six months and recipients would also be supported by charities and other organisations to help them long term.
The District Council has seen a significant increase on the amount paid out for bed and breakfast accommodation in the last three years - rising from £37,000 to over £300,000.
Cllr Tony Jefferson, Leader of Stratford-on-Avon District Council says: "Welfare reforms, changing employment patterns and increased levels of debt have all impacted on residents and we have seen a higher number threatened with homelessness. The reasons for eviction include rent arrears in the social housing sector and the end of private rented sector tenancies, coupled to insufficient household funds to move to affordable accommodation to meet their needs.
"There is now a need to be able to provide short term financial assistance and use public funds effectively and preventatively, reducing the spending on B&B accommodation. The HELP Policy can achieve this with the potential to make savings over the longer term, maintain health and wellbeing and assist residents of Stratford district who are threatened with homelessness."
Funding for this policy has come from a government grant of £155,000 to support the implementation of the Homelessness Reduction Act (Flexible Homelessness Prevention Grant), together with a growth bid for subsequent years.
