Our homelessness prevention service secures one year funding
Homelessness support project secures its survival
We are delighted to have secured funding for 2024-25 which will save Alexandra House support service in Exmouth, as well as wider homelessness prevention by other providers in Devon.
Devon County Council agreed to continue to provide grant funding for support services for those who are homeless and at risk of homelessness. Prior to that we, along with five other homelessness prevention agencies had led campaigns to raise awareness about the proposed removal of funds as part of council budgetary savings plans.
Alexandra House, an Exmouth-based Westward support service for those at risk of homelessness had been under threat. Devon County Council proposed to end the adult social care contribution to the overall 18+ homelessness prevention fund and contract, across Devon (excluding Torbay and Plymouth). The fund and contract for £1.4 million p.a. purchases support hours rather than meeting accommodation costs.
The cost of living crisis has seen many people face a variety of struggles that can push them into homelessness. Our project, Alexandra House, helps to keep 23 people at a time on track for a return to successful independent living; as well as employing a number staff who could have been affected.
Providers work to bring about changes across multiple areas of the individuals’ lives that aid the prevention of and recovery from homelessness. Individuals are helped to engage with the relevant health, housing and social care practitioners to achieve a lasting recovery, and independence. The service takes significant pressure off the local authority, the NHS, Police and other agencies on the frontline.
As homelessness is outside Devon County Council’s statutory responsibility, they proposed to remove the funding in its entirety. Thanks to higher than anticipated government funding, the council increased the homelessness budget by £716,000 to £1.45 million.
The associate executive director of support services at Westward, Di Stirling-Chow, welcomed the decision and said that Westward and all other support providers were relieved and delighted, sending thanks to all those who supported the awareness-raising campaign and petition including those councillors who spoke out.
Cabinet member for finance, Phil Twiss, said, “The final government settlement was announced after our draft budget was published so it is pleasing to be able to include some extra spending…. We also recognise the work that district councils and organisations like the YMCA do to make life a little easier for some of the homeless and I am delighted we are able to continue to help with a full grant.”