Council to Buy More Homes, Addressing Homelessness Housing Emergency

The council spent £1.3m on hotels for homeless families in 2023/24. They declared a housing emergency last September. Councillors pledged £1m to buy homes then, which would ease pressure on homeless services.

Now, cabinet members approved another £1m from a special reserve fund to buy more homes. This reduces homeless families in temporary housing and increases affordable housing. Savings will come from reduced temporary housing costs.

Funding comes from a future investment fund totaling about £12.6m, stemming from pension contribution cuts. £2.7m was already used for 2024/25, and councillors recently allocated another £3.7m.

Besides housing, money goes to building surveys, community group support, and developing worker skills. September’s report showed a homeless accommodation overspend, projected at £1.5m against a £545,000 budget.

Council officials said buying properties helps them offer diverse homes for families experiencing homelessness. The council recovers little from hotel costs, only 12%, compared to about 80% from council-owned homes.

They are buying five properties with the first £1m, with two more properties being considered. The extra investment allows more property purchases. Councillor Devlin called the extra £1m a “fantastic idea”, as the council wants to reduce homelessness.

Council leader O’Donnell thanked all council members for support. He said it was unanimously agreed upon twice: the first time was at a budget strategy group, and it also had unanimous approval when it went to the full council.

The building survey checks 220 council buildings, including schools, offices, and libraries. They will check roofs, walls, windows, and heating, and electric systems will also be assessed. They will prioritize investment based on the data, at a cost of about £500,000.

They’ll use £1.2m for community support, including training community workers. Officials aim to grow needed local groups, such as groups for seniors, parents, or those needing support. The funds help community groups thrive and become well-organized to get funding.

Another £1m supports employee well-being, developing skills and learning for all staff, aiming to make the council a better employer. Officials said it helps upskill workers and address employee absence and stress.

This supports a culture shift where managers improve managing sickness and well-being. Ultimately, this reduces cost and improves capacity.