Nottingham City Council has successfully secured almost £1m of Government funding to go towards buying 15 one-bed flats for homeless people.
Grants totalling £942,000 have been allocated from the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government (MHCLG) Next Steps Accommodation Programme.
Most of the homes have already been identified by the council and will help ensure that as few homeless people as possible return to the streets after being placed in emergency accommodation during the Covid pandemic.
The grant will also help ensure people are supported in their new tenancies, with intensive housing management and personal support packages, aimed at preventing a return to rough sleeping. Working with partners, this type of “wraparound” care approach worked very well during the ‘Everyone In’ campaign at the start of the pandemic, and means that people are not only provided with good quality housing and support, but their health, mental health and general well-being needs are also addressed.
Councillor Linda Woodings, Portfolio Holder for Housing, said: “During the first lockdown in March, the City Council, its partners and volunteers worked really hard and successfully to respond to the Government’s directive to get homeless people off the streets and into suitable accommodation.
“However, providing temporary accommodation is not ideal in the longer term and is very expensive. Being able to move rough sleepers into long-term accommodation, where support is provided, will help them gain the skills and confidence they need to help prevent a return to living on the streets.”
Anyone who is at risk of homelessness is advised to contact Housing Aid in the first instance via the online self-referral form to ensure that those who genuinely need a bed get one.