Exeter wins funding to tackle homelessness

Exeter has won funding to help get homeless people off the streets and into homes, the City Council has announced.

Exeter City Council will received £120,800 from the government.

One of the many problems the Council faces is getting homeless people into private rented properties. Often landlords will achieve higher rents from elsewhere in the market.

The money will help address the issue improving access to private to these properties for those who are homeless or at risk of homelessness and rough sleeping.

Exeter is one of 54 authorities across England to receive funding from the Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government (MHCLG). The announcement was made by the Housing Minister Heather Wheeler MP.

Cllr Emma Morse, Lead Councillor for People said: “We’re grateful to MHCLG for this funding boost which we hope will give many people an opportunity to secure their own tenancy and make a home in properties that can be difficult and costly to access. 

“A range of landlord incentives including financial assistance and tenancy support will enable the Council to compete with the market and reach landlords who may not normally let to homeless households. 

“The funding will allow the Council to go some way to alleviate tenant and landlord concerns and help us to help homeless households secure good quality, affordable accommodation.”

The Private Rented Sector Access Fund compliments existing government action to tackle homelessness and rough sleeping. It sits alongside the Government’s £1.2billion funding programme to tackle homelessness including with support via the Homelessness Reduction Act, the most ambitious legislative reform in decades helping more people to receive the help they need, at an earlier stage.

The Council is pleased to be working in partnership with local homelessness charity St Petrocks on the scheme