Councillor Andrew Gravells, at a full council meeting, welcomed the news that money to support homeless people and those at risk of becoming homeless will increase. The money would be spent on helping people find new homes, supporting young people, and funding an outreach worker to help rough sleepers. Help would be given to people in their homes, and to those struggling to pay their mortgages.
The Preventing Homelessness Grant is provisionally expected to rise from £271,000 in 2010/11 financial year to £379,470 per year for both 2011/12 and 2012/13. And it is thought it will be set at a similar level for the years 2013/14 and 2014/15.
Included in Councillor Gravells comments was the following praise for the staff in the City Housing Department: “The increased funding recognises the positive outcomes achieved by our brilliant staff in the City Housing Department, and ensures the continuation of this important work.”
“The frontline Housing Service Team has prevented 977 households from becoming homeless between April 2009 to December 2010, and this funding will enable this very important work to continue.”
Brian Jones, GEAR Project reminded people about the street count of roofless sleepers before Christmas and the evidence that it provided of an ongoing problem. He also expressed concerns about the vulnerability of young people on the streets
