Question mark over future funding of unit
An Uddingston homeless unit for young people is facing an uncertain future as a result of funding changes.
North Lanarkshire Council’s housing and social work committee last week agreed to extend funding for the Blue Triangle Housing Association’s Viewpark project for a six-month period from April 2017. However, Government proposals to limit housing cost funding, like the Local Housing Allowance (LHA) Cap, has placed a question mark over the project’s future funding.
North Lanarkshire housing chief Elaine Mchugh told councillors: “The service is currently exempted from proposed changes announced by the DWP that will limit housing cost funding, most notably the Local Housing Allowance (LHA) Cap that will be applied to all social rented stock from April 2017 –and to all supported accommodation from April 2018.
“Beyond that date, the UK Government has announced that the funding to cover the additional costs associated with providing supported accommodation, over and above the LHA, will be subject to a revised funding regime.
“Funding up to the limit of current costs for this type of accommodation will be devolved to the Scottish Government. However, they have still to decide how they will choose to spend it.
“It is therefore proposed that the support contract for this service is extended with Blue Triangle Housing Association for a six-month period from April 1, 2017, during which time there should be further clarity around impacts of welfare reforms and consideration can be given to any alternative delivery options linked to our temporary and supported accommodation strategy and a procurement exercise will be undertaken to secure future accommodation and support for young people.”
The net cost of the housing support contract for the Blue Triangle Housing Association project for the six-month period from April 2017 is £38,645. The project provides 12 accommodation places and support for young single homeless people aged between 16 to 25.
Ms Mchugh told the housing and social work service committee that a service review had confirmed a continued need for such a service for young homeless people in North Lanarkshire. She said the project provided a valuable accommodation and support service and stressed that the Care Inspectorate, following an inspection in June 2015, had graded the facility as very good in terms of quality of care and support, and quality of management and leadership, and good on quality of staffing.
A value for money assessment had also confirmed that the Viewpark scheme is comparable with other similar support services in the North Lanarkshire area.
Ms Mchugh commented: “The service review has confirmed that there is a continued need for an accommodation and housing support service for young homeless people in North Lanarkshire.
“It is also worth noting that the Viewpark project is the only supported accommodation specifically for young people in North Lanarkshire.”