North Norfolk District Council spending £1.5m on housing for homeless
Cabinet members have agreed to finance the six new homes, which will be used as temporary accommodation
A Norfolk council will spend nearly £1.5m on buying up properties to be used for families facing homelessness.
North Norfolk District Council’s cabinet members have agreed to finance the six new homes, which will be used as temporary accommodation.
The money comes from a £588,000 government grant, and £900,000 generated through a new premium on second homes.
This levy comes into force this month, requiring people who are not permanent residents to pay a 100pc premium on council tax.
At a meeting this week, the Liberal Democrat-controlled cabinet praised the proposal.
Wendy Fredericks, portfolio holder for housing, said: “It has been desperate times for many in recent years.
“These homes will improve residents’ lives tremendously while they wait to find a permanent home.”
North Norfolk District Council has been spending about £1m a year on temporary accommodation after the cost of living crisis pushed many more families into homelessness.
A shortage of social housing has forced the council to house families in more expensive temporary accommodation options, such as hotels, sometimes at locations outside the district.
It has been working to tackle the situation by buying properties that come on the market and now has 31 homes available for people facing homelessness.
The council currently has 11 temporary homes in North Walsham; with the remainder spread between Holt, Fakenham, Briston, Sheringham, Cromer, Mundesley, Stalham Hoveton and Ludham.
The new properties will be purchased across the district, and one of the six would initially be prioritised to resettle Afghan households.