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To approve the award of homelessness prevention grants (HPGs) to agencies, and to approve an alternative source of funding for these grants, repurposing the former grants budget to support the new ‘streets to home’ service and enable the secure funding of existing housing advice service staff.
Decision type: Key
Reason Key: Expenditure > £300,000;
Decision status: Recommendations Approved
Notice of proposed decision first published: 06/12/2021
Decision due: 20 Jan 2022 by Executive Councillor for Housing
Lead member: Executive Councillor for Housing
Department: Housing Services
Contact: James McWilliams, Housing Services Manager - Housing Advice Email: james.mcwilliams@cambridge.gov.uk.
Additional Information: This is a key item and will automatically appear on the agenda.
Background Information: Each year the Council invites agencies to submit bids for funding for homelessness-related services. Bids are considered by a panel of officers having regard to the degree to which the proposed service will prevent or relieve homelessness. The panel considers the strategic and operational value of the proposed service and the ability of the submitting agency to self-fund in whole or in part. In former years HPGs have been funded from a core budget within the general fund. It is now proposed that from 2022-23 onward it is more appropriate to fund grants from the annual homelessness prevention grant the Council receives from central government. This move marries up these two funds. This proposed change also permits the former permanent source of grant funding to be repurposed for longer-term commitments; co-funding the Streets to Home service and the salaries of staff taken on to meet increased workload arising from the Homelessness Reduction Act.
