Council approves £1m project to reduce homelessness

The project aims to support the single homeless cohort in Reading

A project has been approved to help single homeless people get the housing they need.

Reading Borough Council unanimously agreed to seek government funding to help pay for the housing scheme to tackle homelessness during a meeting on Monday.

The authority is aiming to buy six properties to re-home individuals, which would require a total spend of £1.185m.

The six homes would be provided as part of the council's Housing First project.

Ellie Emberson, lead councillor for housing, said: “We’re seeing a lot of difficulties in terms of those that are struggling with rough sleeping, especially with the cost of living at real unprecedented levels.

"We know this will help more people in sourcing accommodation."

The project is reliant on the government’s Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) granting funding to the council.

Of the total spend, £167,789 would come from revenue funds granted to the council from the DLUHC’s Single Homelessness Accommodation Programme.

Ms Emberson expressed confidence about securing the additional funds needed as the council has "a strong track record of securing funding".

Selina Ma, the council’s acting rough sleeping initiatives team manager, explained that the homes would be available to individuals on a permanent basis.

She said: "With the Housing First model we do aim for it to be their permanent homes, so it’s an opportunity to provide stable long-term accommodation.

“It’s not a temporary arrangement.”