Posted 23.03.17
Crisis: Article link
Almost two thirds of councils across England are struggling to find social tenancies for homeless people, while half find it 'very difficult' to assist applicants into privately rented accommodation, according to a report just published (22 March) by Crisis and the Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF).
The findings are from state-of-the nation report The Homelessness Monitor: England - an annual independent study funded by Crisis and JRF.
Drawing on a national survey of councils, statistical analysis and in-depth interviews, the report analyses the impact of economic and policy developments on homelessness.
The report reveals that councils are finding it particularly difficult to house homeless young people and large families, with 85% of responding councils having difficulties assisting single people aged 25-34 into accommodation and 88% finding it difficult to house large.
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Posted 23.03.17
GOV UK: Article link
This release provides information on the decisions taken by local authorities on homelessness applications and households accepted as owed a main homelessness duty by local authorities.
It also contains information on homelessness prevention and relief in England that took place outside the homelessness statutory framework.
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Posted 15.03.17
GOV UK: Article link
The Government is transforming the way councils fund homelessness services, giving them greater flexibility to prioritise homelessness prevention, Communities Minister Marcus Jones has confirmed.
The new 'flexible homelessness support grant' is a radical replacement of the tightly controlled funding currently given to source and manage temporary accommodation for homeless individuals and their families.
Under the existing 'temporary accommodation management fee', funding can only be used for expensive intervention when a household is already homeless, rather than on preventing this happening in the first place.
The new grant will empower councils with the freedom to support the full range of homelessness services. This could include employing a homelessness prevention or tenancy support officer to work closely with people who are at risk of losing their homes.
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Posted 01.03.17
Thames Reach: Article link
London homelessness prevention charities Thames Reach and Vital Regeneration have agreed a merger, which takes effect on 1 March.
The merger means Vital Regeneration becomes a subsidiary of Thames Reach.
Vital Regeneration has helped many hundreds of people placed in temporary accommodation by the City of Westminster to improve their skills and employment prospects through its highly successful Homeless Employment and Learning Project.
The innovative work of Vital Regeneration will be developed and delivered in more boroughs across London.