Council pauses plan to axe homeless support funding
Existing contracts are being extended to March 2024
Plans to stop funding support for homeless people have been put on hold by Devon County Council.
It was planning to end the spending to try and balance the books, but instead, its existing contracts with providers like the YMCA and St Petrocs have been extended to March 2024.
There are also going to be talks with Devon’s eight District and City Councils, working together to agree a way forward that ensures ongoing homelessness support across the county.
"We need to take stock"
In a statement, council leader John Hart said, "It’s clear to me from having listened to those who spoke passionately at our recent meeting, and the concerns from homelessness providers and others, that we need take stock and understand more fully the impact of any proposal.
"While Devon County Council does not have responsibility for housing or homelessness directly, the issue of homelessness has significance across a great deal of what this council does to improve life for the people of Devon - whether that is in terms of good Public Health; our support to young people and especially our care leavers; as well as our adult social care services.
“We need to better understand the full impact of such a decision on all aspects of our public services, including the impact on our Team Devon District and City Council partners.
"Therefore, I am putting a pause on the decision, so that we can have a full and frank discussion with our eight District Council Leaders and officers.
"I also want to involve other agencies, such as the Police and Public Health, and to see a full and accurate picture of the different situations across the county.
"By the end of this calendar year, I want to have a joint view on the way forward, and a design for how the service will work in future that can be agreed by all of our District Council Leaders and myself."