£90,000 a year could be saved by North East Lincolnshire council
as it looks to improve emergency accommodation for homeless people
Empty houses could offer a lifeline for homeless families who are at risk of ending up on the street. North East Lincolnshire Council is hoping to buy more vacant properties which would provide stable settings for people to get back on their feet.
Two long-term empty homes have already been purchased – but there remains a shortage of emergency housing. The council is now looking to become a Registered Provider of housing which would give it access to Homes England funding.
This would allow it to purchase and convert more empty houses in borough. It would need to rely less on bed and breakfasts for temporary accommodation, saving around £90,000 a year. These settings are already considered a last resort for families with children.
It is hoped that vacant properties taken over by the council would prepare families better to move to permanent residences. North East Lincolnshire Council is currently leasing 50 properties and 13 bed and breakfast rooms.
During the pandemic, it received £334,000 government funding through the ‘Everyone In’ campaign to purchase two empty properties. Both had been vacant long-term and had large council tax debts, which were recovered through the scheme. It is now in the process of purchasing a third.
A report into the proposed move has highlighted the need for the council to create accommodation for people in need.
“Registered providers are now less likely to accept high risk tenants. This change of approach has been partly driven by the perceived commercialisation and independence nationally of our housing providers,” it says.
“In some cases, Housing Associations are perceived to have moved away from their more traditional role of housing people in ‘housing need’.
“In the existing housing market, the Council requires more options to support challenging households, who registered providers and charities consider too high risk to house.”
Cabinet will be asked to approve the application to be a Registered Provider at a meeting on Wednesday, September 8.