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Homelessness services experience cuts in funding
More than four in 10 homelessness services saw their funding slashed last year, according to a major report published today.
Out of 357 services surveyed by umbrella body Homeless Link, 41% said funding for their accommodation projects in 2014 had reduced since the previous financial year.
This is up slightly from 38% of services in 2013.
Funding reduced on average by 17% for the projects that saw a decrease this year, according the survey.
However, Support for Single Homeless People in England also found that eight in 10 of those services which had their funding reduced reported being able to support the same number of homeless people.
Services reported a significant reduction in services and bed spaces, with bed space numbers falling 16% since 2010.
The report also found 90% of accommodation services reported that their clients had been affected by sanctions, up from 68% in 2013.
Rick Henderson, Homeless Link’s chief executive, said: ‘It is a credit to the resilience and creativity of the sector that services continue to support so many people towards leaving homelessness behind.
‘However, this year’s report highlights that external factors such as funding pressures and welfare changes are placing increasing strain on their ability to do this vital work.’
