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‘Cuts will lead to more homeless’ (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)
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Council leader writes to minister to call for change to funds decision
8:00am Tuesday 19th February 2013 in News
By Jo Winrow, City Hall Reporter
Coun Dave Green
The leader of Bradford Council has written to the Housing Minister calling for the reversal of a cut of almost 40 per cent in funding, which helps prevent people in the district from becoming homeless.
Councillor David Green has contacted Mark Prisk over the issue after it emerged that the authority would see a £75,000 cut in its Preventing Homelessness Grant in each of the next two years – which amounts to a 38 per cent drop overall.
It was announced by the Department for Communities and Local Government in September that Bradford would see its grant slashed, but the Council was told it would receive funding through other channels and the overall amount for preventing homelessness would remain the same.
Despite these earlier assurances, the Council has now been advised that no additional funding will be forthcoming.
Coun Green said: “This is completely the wrong time to be cutting this funding. More and more people are at risk of homelessness and this is not likely to get better any time soon given the economic climate and the Government’s bedroom tax.
“We are going to see people forced out of their homes for having a spare room but left with nowhere to go because there are insufficient numbers of smaller properties to meet the increase in demand.”
The Council’s executive member for housing, Councillor Val Slater, added: “This is a perverse decision that fails to recognise the reality on the ground.”
Bradford City Centre Project is one such scheme which is already being hit by cuts to its funding. It provides accommodation and advice for young people aged 16 to 25 and has occupancy rates of 99 per cent.
Director Jed Din said: “I can only predict an increase in youth homelessness. It’s going to be difficult.”
However a Department for Communities and Local Government spokesman said: “These claims are untrue. Bradford’s core homelessness grant has not been significantly reduced.
“Bradford’s allocations were made on the same basis as the rest of England."
Comments(4)
Joedavid
says...
10:04am Tue 19 Feb 13
birday
says...
10:30am Tue 19 Feb 13
.
Here's the idea - the homeless person pays the home owner their housing benefit if return for a roof over their head and in return the home owner uses the money to pay their mortgage and / or pays for repairs to be carried out. A win win situation for all ... including politicians.
.
With a bit of suppport from the Council's housing department to home owners about how to recruit a suitable tenant, draw up a contract and keep property at home safe I think this could be a workable solution for many people.
.
There are so many struggling home owners - look around you and what do you see ... so many severely neglected properties in neighbourhoods boardering on dereliction! And so many underoccupied properties.
markjoe
says...
4:15pm Wed 20 Feb 13
angry bradfordian says...
8:33am Tue 19 Feb 13
Does he think that both these are more important than the possibility of people being homeless?
Or could it be that £75,000 is actually a drop in the ocean when the council has a £1344m budget and he's just making a party political point rather than doing what he's paid for?