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Welsh housing bodies suggest alternative to homelessness grant merger
Ten housing and homelessness organisations in Wales have warned that planned changes to a grant programme could put services for vulnerable people at risk of closure.
The Welsh Government has proposed rolling the Supporting People grant, which sees local authorities given cash to fund housing-related support services for people vulnerable to becoming homeless, as well as older and disabled people, into a poverty-prevention ‘mega grant’.
Service providers have warned the move will increase the likelihood of cuts to funding in the future as cash-strapped councils focus the funds on more politically popular areas.
An estimated 60,000 people receive help from services funded by Supporting People grant.
A new report published today by organisations including Community Housing Cymru, the Chartered Institute of Housing Cymru, Shelter Cymru and Cymorth Cymru, outlines the case for a new Homelessness and Housing-Related Support Grant.
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The suggested alternative would merge four housing grants – Supporting People, Homelessness Prevention, Rent Smart Wales Enforcement and short-term supported accommodation grant – into one, while helping to safeguard the future of services.
The Welsh Government has a target to reduce the number of different grant streams it manages.
“Over the next few months Welsh Government ministers will be making a crucial decision about the future funding of homelessness and housing-related support services in Wales,” the report said.
“We recognise the pressures on the Welsh Government and the challenges that ministers are facing. In light of this, we are not simply defending the status quo.
“We have challenged our members and each other to develop a constructive solution which helps to meet ministers’ aims – but will also safeguard the future of homelessness and housing-related support services in Wales.
“We also believe that our proposal can facilitate a more strategic approach to ending homelessness and supporting people to live independent, fulfilled lives.”
Welsh Assembly members are due to vote on plans to merge Supporting People with other grants in the autumn.
