Homeless people given chance to open bank accounts

The Breaking the Cycle programme is a partnership between Portsmouth City Council and Shelter

Homeless people in Portsmouth can now open bank accounts thanks to a new partnership scheme.

The agreement between the city council and charity Shelter means anyone at the local authority who is supporting someone with no fixed accommodation can set up an account on their behalf.

It will allow people to access benefits they would not have previously been able to receive, such as universal credit, pension credit, personal independence payments and child benefit.

Councillor Darren Sanders, cabinet member for Housing and Tackling Homelessness, said that the new agreement will "change lives".

The partnership was set up by the council's Housing Needs Advice and Support team, which helps homeless people in the city to find permanent accommodation.

The council currently provides a other services to reduce homelessness, including a day service and rough sleeping pathway that has 105 units of supported temporary accommodation.

Robert Bloomer, Break the Cycle relationship manager at Shelter, said the programme "is a brilliant initiative to help support people with no fixed address to get a bank account".

He said: "We know that without basic banking facilities, people are often left struggling to receive income, pay bills and even get accommodation."

Mr Bloomer added that similar partnerships across the UK had already helped more than 4,000 people with their banking needs.