A service to prevent people from becoming homeless is at risk from council cuts, with a consultation due to end today (Thursday 28 November).
East Sussex County Council has proposed cutting £4.5 million – or 88 per cent – from the “floating support service” that saved thousands of people from becoming homeless last year.
The service is run by Brighton-based BHT Sussex and, without it, the cost to councils and other taxpayer-funded public services would have significantly outweighed the cost of the contract.
But the council is aiming to make savings of £55 million and the BHT Sussex floating support service contract is one of several in the firing line.
BHT Sussex said that the vital homelessness prevention service was at risk as a result of the proposed funding cuts.
The housing and homelessness charity said that last year the floating support service worked with 5,497 people and prevented 1,342 households from becoming homeless.
If the proposed funding cut goes ahead, BHT Sussex said: “This would have a significant impact on the local community.
“BHT Sussex has run the East Sussex floating support service for the past three years, supporting families and single people who are facing a range of housing-related issues.
“They support people who are at imminent risk of homelessness or who need to move to more secure accommodation, as well as those who require support to remain in their current accommodation.
“They help people who need support regarding domestic abuse, harassment and hate crime, people who need to claim benefits that they are entitled to and people who need to reduce debt that is putting their housing at risk.
“The proposed funding cut is currently being consulted on. Clients and former clients of the service, East Sussex residents, partner agencies and service staff can respond to the proposal and make their views known via a consultation survey.
“BHT Sussex is asking as many people as possible who are interested in protecting this service to complete the survey.”
For more details and for the survey link, click here.
The final decision on funding is due to be made by councillors in February.
Nikki Homewood, the director of advice and support services at BHT Sussex, said: “If these cuts go ahead, many more people will become homeless.
“The people we support are vulnerable, from individuals living with long-term illness or mental health problems, to families living in unsuitable accommodation, to older people who are frail or living with dementia.
At £40k to sustain a household, according to the figures here, is that good value for money?
How much would it cost local authorities to house those people in temporary accommodation? What about the impact on the children of those families? Long term health issues? What about the other households supported? Would they have had increased health/care needs if not supported? What would those costs have been? It is £819pa per household supported.
They have an income of what £17m annually, they will still have £13m in funding. Plus they have there fingers in so many pies. Agree the costs 40k with many reporting staying within the system for years, I also dont think is value for money, council needs to prioritise savings via in-house replacements and floating services, we have a very good homeless health team why can they not be more funded. Clinical psychs and nurses helping people recover. These were a vital service for me in the early days of homelessness, at a time I was very very unwell.
I think a genuine review on outcomes and value for money is needed, alongside the power organisations have, for example, offering advice, being a landlord. Support services and then being court appointed legal team. Thats too much power for one super charity who rarely every speaks out on local issues unless its to do with money…
Homelessness should not be about profit. It should be about ending homelessness and being brave to look within as part of the issue.