Exeter gets major funding boost to tackle homelessness
Exeter City Council has secured major government funding to continue to address homelessness in the city.
The government today (Thursday 17 September) announced that Exeter would receive £440,000 from its Next Steps Accommodation Programme as part of a commitment to end rough sleeping.
The Next Steps programme sees £91.5 million given to 274 councils across the UK to help vulnerable people housed during the pandemic.
Working with partners across the city, the funding will allow the Council to continue to support those accommodated during Covid-19
The money will allow the Council and its partners to:
- Continue to provide accommodation until the end of March 2021 for the remaining 42 people accommodated under Covid and continue to reduce rough sleeping in the city
- Provide dedicated support for those accommodated in hotels
- Provide a Private Rented Deposit Scheme to support 13 people to access private rented accommodation, this will be match funded by Exeter City Council.
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
The Council has also made a £3 million Capital programme bid for the creation of 3 units of new long term move-on accommodation with dedicated support to be delivered before the 31 March 2021. This is due to be announced by the end of the month and if successful will include 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
Council Leader Phil Bialyk said he was delighted with the funding. “In Exeter we are committed to seeing an end to rough sleeping. But this isn’t just for rough sleeping it’s for everyone who has lost accommodation during Covid and is an ambitious plan to tackle homelessness in a way not seen before.
“In Exeter we have a dedicated group of partners who are committed to tackling homelessness in the city: BCHA, Julian House, Access Health Care, Co-Lab Exeter, and St Petrocks. We are also a member of the Exeter Homelessness Partnership. With the support we have, we will continue to work towards ending rough sleeping and finding accommodation for those who need it.”
