Issue - meetings

Options to support the health of those facing homelessness

The Cost-of-Living Crisis means that for many the risk of homelessness is increasing, the most vulnerable in our society are balancing heating vs food vs rental payments. The most devastating outcome is for those that lose their homes to end up sleeping rough. These individuals often have complex needs sometimes leading to entrenched negative behaviours and health issues.

At this time of crisis BCP Council wants to ensure we are supporting the most in need in our communities. We know that homeless individuals find it easier to work with and trust voluntary sector organisations. As a Council we want to enable our communities to do more to support those that are homeless.

This report sets out options for Cabinet to consider in order to increase the level of funding available to support homelessness charities in the BCP area. The aim of this funding is to increase the support those facing homelessness receive with a particular focus on health.

These options require a £50,000 annual revenue grant for 5 years and a one-off Capital grant of £250,000. The grants will be outcome based and the recipients would need to demonstrate each year that their work directly reduces the number of people rough sleeping in the BCP area and the health issues they experience.

Decision:

RESOLVED that Cabinet: -

(a) Allocate £50,000 revenue funding and a one off £250,000 capital funding to support the voluntary sector to provide health support to homeless individuals; and

(b) Having considered the options set out in the report Cabinet agree to implement to allocate these funds to provide Hope Place CIC with a £50,000 annual revenue grant for 5 years and a one-off Capital grant of £250,000

Voting: Unanimous

Portfolio Holder: People and Homes

Reason

To support the Council’s Homelessness Strategy and work to reduce homelessness across the authority area.

Minutes:

The Portfolio Holder for People and Homes presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix 'G' to these Minutes in the Minute Book.

In introducing the report the Portfolio Holder advised that the published papers cited as appendices should be referenced as background papers and not appendices as these are already publicly available.

Cabinet was advised that the Cost-of-Living Crisis means that for many the risk of homelessness is increasing, the most vulnerable in our society are balancing heating vs food vs rental payments, and that the most devastating outcome is for those that lose their homes to end up sleeping rough, and that these individuals often have complex needs sometimes leading to entrenched negative behaviours and health issues.

Cabinet was informed that at this time of crisis BCP Council wants to ensure we are supporting the most in need in our communities, and that we know that homeless individuals find it easier to work with and trust voluntary sector organisations, and that as a Council we want to enable our communities to do more to support those that are homeless.

Cabinet was advised that the report sets out options for Cabinet to consider in order to increase the level of funding available to support homelessness charities in the BCP area, with the aim of this funding being to increase the support those facing homelessness receive with a particular focus on health.

In relation to this Cabinet was advised that these options require a £50,000 annual revenue grant for 5 years and a one-off Capital grant of £250,000.

Cabinet was further advised that the grants will be outcome based and the recipients would need to demonstrate each year that their work directly reduces the number of people rough sleeping in the BCP area and the health issues they experience.