Agenda item

Homelessness Prevention Grant and Domestic Abuse Grant

Minutes:

The Strategic Housing Officer presented the Homelessness Prevention Grant and Domestic Abuse Grant report for Members’ consideration. In doing so it was highlighted the grant funding allocation was different from previous years. The Government planned to consolidate several existing grants into a single Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Grant.

 

The Government’s recent consultation made changes to the provision of Homelessness Prevention Grant in relation to its use towards temporary accommodation. It was proposed that a proportion of Homelessness Prevention Grant would be transferred to the Revenue Support Grant from 2026–27. This funding would be allocated using the new Settlement Funding Assessment (SFA), which included a dedicated Temporary Accommodation formula.

 

The percentage of Homelessness Prevention Grant allocation, removed for temporary accommodation was anticipated to be approximately 51 per cent and at least 49 per cent of the new grant must be spent on prevention and relief activities and staffing.

 

The projects due to receive funding were included within the report along with details of services and activities they covered.

 

Members thanked the Officers for all the hard work they provided in this important area. It was noted that this report had been pre-scrutinised at the Overview and Scrutiny Board meeting the previous evening, no further recommendations had been made.

 

RECOMMENDEDthat

 

1)    Subject to the final decision by central Government, that the proposed element of the Revenue Support Grant 2026/27 attributed to Temporary Accommodation is ring fenced to the Homelessness Prevention and Rough Sleeping Grant.

 

RESOLVEDthat (subject to agreement of recommendation 1 above)

 

2)    the initiatives in the table below be approved to receive the Homelessness Prevention Grant and Domestic Abuse Grant allocations of funding for 2026/27.

 

 

Homelessness Grant Allocation

2026/27

£ (up to £495,917)

The Council is committed to maintain the spend below to meet its statutory duties under homelessness legislation

BDHT Housing Agency Agreement Top Up Staffing Costs

52,475

Static Temporary Accommodation for an additional 4 units of accommodation

30,688

Worcestershire Strategic Housing Partnership Co-ordinator – contribution towards county-wide development and delivery of housing initiatives in partnership with other agencies  

10,500

Severe Emergency Weather Provision

18,347

St Basils Foyer – provides stable accommodation/support for young people - 14 units – fully occupied during last financial year

50,203

St Basils Crash pad – provides emergency temporary accommodation for 16 and 17 year olds

19,711

Bromsgrove Home Choice CBL and Homelessness Module

14,600

Sub Total

£196,524

The services support the delivery of the Council’s Homelessness Service.

St Basils Young Persons Pathway Worker – support to prevent homelessness for under 25’s and Crash Pad to provide a unit of emergency accommodation for young people.

41,116

NewStarts - Provide Furniture and Volunteering Opportunities for Ex-Offenders – supports tenancy sustainment and provides future employment opportunities/reduces risk of reoffending

10,000

GreenSquare Accord Housing Related Support – helping ex-offenders remain housed/seek employment

31,172

Maggs Rough Sleeper outreach and prevention service targeting rough sleepers and those at risk of rough sleeping.

35,607

North Worcestershire Basement Project - Support for young people at risk of homelessness

30,000

BDHT - Sunrise Project intensive support

46,886

Mental Health Link Worker (part funded)

21,554

CAB – Debt Advice for Home Owners and Private Renters

27,611

CAB – Affordability Assessments

6,021

Housing First/Housing Led Service

29,563

Part time Empty Homes Officer

7,680

Spend to Save Top Up

5,683

County Rough Sleeper Coordinator

5,500

Rough Sleeper Access to Accommodation Fund and NFNO/NSNO

1,000

Sub Total

299,393

Total committed expenditure

£495,917

Underspend

£0

 

3)    delegated authority be granted to the Assistant Director of Community and Housing Services, following consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Strategic Housing to use any unallocated Grant during the year or make further adjustments and uplifts as necessary to ensure full utilisation of the Grants for 2026/27 in support of existing or new schemes.

 

Supporting documents: