£314,777 to prevent homelessness in Forest of Dean
Forest of Dean District Council will use the £314,777 Homelessness Prevention Grant to reduce the need for expensive short-term, emergency accommodation and minimise uncertainty for individuals and families.
Councillor Claire Vaughan, Cabinet Member for Housing said, “A stable home is essential to wellbeing and is the foundation for a successful and happy life.
“Last year, our housing team helped over 180 households that were threatened with homelessness to either stay in their homes or find an alternative home. The housing team also arranged over 150 emergency or temporary accommodation placements across the district.
“We are committed to minimising disruption and uncertainty for families, reducing incidences of rough sleeping and ensuring that temporary accommodation for families is used as a last resort.”
When it is not possible to prevent a family becoming homeless the Council ensures that they spend the least amount of time in Bed & Breakfast accommodation as possible. The Council is committed to maintaining its record of no family being left in Bed & Breakfast for longer than 6 weeks.
The Council’s activities this year include providing assistance in addressing rent arrears, helping to source alternative accommodation and providing mediation to prevent homelessness from occurring.
We will also provide where needed funding support for cash deposits, fees and payments of rent in advance, as well as payments to help households make their new accommodation liveable. We’ve ensured that we maintain critical roles to ensure that clients are fully supported and to manage funds so that they are targeted to those who need them most.
The Homelessness Prevention Grant is a grant from the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) and this allocation covers the next two financial years.
Find more information on how to contact the Council for homelessness support here: https://www.fdean.gov.uk/housing/homelessness-support-and-advice/