Mid Sussex Times

Council’s plans to help more homeless people

- Karen Dunn

Help is in the pipeline for some homeless families in Mid Sussex as the district council plans to buy five homes to be used as temporary accommodat­ion.

At a meeting of the cabinet, members recommende­d a total of £4.2m be put into a specific reserve – £1.4m for the family homes and £2.8m for temporary homes for single people.

Leader Jonathan AshEdwards said: “This service is probably one of the most important that we provide.

“We’re talking about people who turn up at the council’s reception with nowhere to stay. It’s right that we give the best possible support to people at a time when they’re most vulnerable.

“We’re in a financial position where we can make these investment­s. In the long run it’s good for the taxpayer as well.”

Placing people in councilown­ed homes rather than relying on costly bed and breakfast should save Mid Sussex tens of thousands of pounds per year, while also keeping the tenants close to their work, family and friends.

Judy Holmes, assistant chief executive, updated members on a similar project, launched in July 2018, which saw £4m spent on 15 properties, which are expected to save the council £240,000 per year.

Ms Holmes said: “Unfortunat­ely, the demand for temporary accommodat­ion has actually increased.

“We’ve experience­d an increase of 80 per cent in the last year.

“The largest increase in demand has come from single, vulnerable households, with 58 per cent of those in temporary accommodat­ion in this category. Of those, 63 per cent have mental health needs.”

On January 1 2019, Mid Sussex had 40 households in temporary accommodat­ion. One year later it was 72. By the end of January this year, the figure had risen to 81, 41 of which were staying in guest houses at the taxpayers’ expense.

After buying the family sized homes, the council’s aim is to buy up to 10 places – or a group home – for the single, vulnerable homeless.

A final decision will be made by the full council.

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