The borough council's cost-of-living battle has been given a £25,000 boost using cash from the government to help people at risk of being made homeless or struggling to find somewhere new to live after racking up rent arrears.
The money will be allocated to a new Homelessness Prevention Fund which has been given the go-ahead by Erewash councillors.
The fund will be administered by Erewash Borough Council’s Housing Options Team using money from the government’s Homelessness Prevention Grant.
It will be launched next April and will provide financial support where tenancy related debt could lead to eviction or present a barrier to someone finding a new social rent home or one in the private sector.
A report says the fund will “help to relieve the trauma and anxiety of homelessness by ensuring accommodation solutions can be found as quickly as possible”.
It stresses: “Extended stays in temporary accommodation are undesirable and increase cost pressures on revenue budgets. The council also has a duty to ensure families do not remain in bed and breakfast for longer than six weeks.”
As the Council Executive met to approve the plans on Tuesday 5th September, Councillor Claire Marie Poole, Lead Member for Health and Wellbeing, said: “The cost-of-living crisis is hitting everyone hard. Helping residents through the worsening squeeze is the council’s absolute priority. When it comes to those who face losing their homes we not only have a legal duty to act but a moral one too.”
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