Council given £120k cash aid to help homeless
KIRKLEES Council is one of three authorities in Yorkshire and the Humber sharing more than £300,000 of government cash earmarked for the homeless.
Councils can use the “cash boost” to help people who are homeless, or at risk of becoming homeless, to secure their own tenancy - such as paying deposits for the tenancy or putting down the first month’s rent.
The money, totalling £369,198, is part of the Government’s £100m strategy to end rough sleeping for good and will be split between Kirklees, Barnsley and Bradford.
Kirklees’ share is around £120,000. It is designed to help vulnerable people across the region make a home in properties they may otherwise not have been able to access, and will focus on up to 400 households.
Local authorities can now also bid for a share of up to £26m of Rapid Rehousing Pathway funding for 2019/20 - extra investment to fund innovative local schemes that help those sleeping rough and struggling with mental health problems or substance misuse issues.
Minister for Housing and Homelessness, Heather Wheeler MP, said: “Everyone deserves to have a home to call their own. This money will make a huge difference in opening up the private rented sector to people who need it in Yorkshire and the Humber, and give them the chance to rebuild their lives.
“This is just one part of the wideranging work we are doing to help tackle all forms of homelessness, including our Rough Sleeping Strategy, as we ensure more homes are made available for those in need.”
The new funding announcement follows government action on addressing the issue of letting adverts, which potentially discriminate against wouldbe tenants.
In the coming weeks, ministers will meet leading industry representatives including mortgage providers, landlord associations, tenant groups, and flatshare and property websites to clamp down on blanket exclusions in adverts - with a view to stopping them altogether.
Landlords can already receive rent from tenants on Housing Benefit and Universal Credit - meaning payments can be paid directly into their accounts.
A Kirklees Council spokesman said: “We are delighted that our bid for funding has been successful and that approximately £120,000 has been allocated to support our work.
“This will help us to develop new schemes, and to support our existing arrangements, to prevent and tackle homelessness by supporting people into accommodation. Homelessness is a national issue and keeping people safe and well is extremely important to us.
“We want to prevent people from sleeping rough and ensure they can access a safe and affordable home with the appropriate level of support.”