Newcastle-under-Lyme funding for those with nowhere to stay

The council said rising rental costs had been an issue

An additional £450,000 has been set aside to help "rising numbers of people" access temporary accommodation after being left with nowhere to live.

Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council intends the spending to support "families, couples and individuals who are, or about to be made, homeless".

It said the issue had arisen as landlords withdrew rentable properties from the market.

That had reduced supply and pushed up rental costs, it explained.

It added supply had further been reduced by other councils and the government taking up accommodation locally.

The council does not own or manage housing stock.

Since April, the authority has helped 37 families, five couples and 87 individuals that had, or faced the prospect of having, nowhere to stay. Last year it set aside an additional £250,000 to address the issue.

The money was spent on providing temporary accommodation in hotels and bed and breakfasts.

The council said this was seen as a short-term solution for a maximum of 56 days while people sought something more permanent privately, or through a housing association.

Gill Heesom, the councillor responsible for community safety and wellbeing, said: "One of the biggest current pressures is increasing demand by families seeking short-term help after becoming homeless."

She explained: "Providing short-term accommodation for a family of four could cost in the region of £900 a week, while we can only reclaim £140 from the Department of Work and Pensions."

The council would have to look to the government for support, she added.

The authority plans to buy a town centre property to provide emergency accommodation.