Council announces plans to tackle rough sleeping in Exeter

Exeter City Council has launched an ambitious bid to address homelessness in the city.

If successful the Next Steps Accommodation Programme funding would continue to support those accommodated during Covid-19 and help to further address homelessness in the city.

The application with city partners looks to:

· Continue to provide accommodation until the end of March 2021 for  the 42 accommodated under Covid and continue to reduce rough sleeping in the city

· Provide dedicated support for those accommodated in hotels

· Offer a dedicated Health Care Assistant to carry out health checks for people going into accommodation and rough sleeping on the streets.

· Provide a Private Rented Deposit Scheme to support 13 people to access private rented accommodation, this will be match funded by Exeter City Council.

· Create a 5 bedroomed supported lease property to provide much needed move-on accommodation

In Exeter, there has been a noticeable increase in single homelessness and since 23 March when the ‘Everybody In’ directive was announced, a total of 102 households have been accommodated. 

This includes people in shelters and shared sleeping spaces, people rough sleeping or at risk of rough sleeping. Of these:

· 38 have moved on successfully through other housing options via friends/family,  private rented, social housing and supported housing

· 22 have lost or abandoned emergency accommodation

· 42 remain in emergency Covid-accommodation

Exeter City Council’s£3 million Capital programme bid will see the creation of 31 units of new long term move-on accommodation with dedicated support to be delivered before the 31 March 2021.  This includes an investment of over a £1million by ECC. The accommodation will be a mixture of self-contained properties, studio flats, en-suite rooms and smaller houses of multiple occupancy

Cllr Emma Morse, Lead Councillor for Supporting People, said: “This is an ambitious plan to tackle homelessness in a way not seen before.

“We would like to thank our partners BCHA, Julian House, Access Health Care, Co-Lab Exeter, Exeter Homelessness Partnership and St Petrocks who are all working together with us in the best interests of the city.”

The result of the application will be known in mid-September.