“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.”
Currently the 5 companies covered by the homelessness avoidance agreement support around 250 individuals with 113 bed areas in hostels and an additional 132 individuals getting drifting assistance.
An assessment on the choice was kept in April and drew in stiff opposition with 900 individuals challenging the strategies.
YMCA Exeter is amongst the charities that have actually opposed the council cuts. One of the 5 companies covered by the agreement, YMCA Exeter gets £157,000 worth of moneying to support 85 youths to avoid them from falling under homelessness.
Earlier this year, YMCA Exeter’s joint-chief executive Si Johns informed The Big Issue “people will unfortunately die” if the cuts go on.
At the analysis conference, the charity alerted the council the cuts would “cost Devon 10 times more than they save” and criticised the absence of an alternative strategy.
Speaking after the council U-turn, Johns said: “Thank you Devon County Council for listening to the public, the service providers and those that have bravely shared their stories of moving on from homelessness through the invaluable support of prevention services.
“Thank you for reading the material that was passed to you by service providers, evidencing how much prevention saves statutory services a vast amount of money.
“Whilst YMCA Exeter is relieved and thankful to hear that Devon County Council is committing to fund providers until the end of the financial year, it is our hope and expectation that they will continue to fund homeless prevention as many other local authorities do across the country to great effect for many years to come.”
One of the hostels formerly allocated for closure is Gabriel House in Exeter.
Big Issue supplier Mark Hall, who lived at the hostel for 2 and a half years prior to moving into his own flat in June, said Gabriel House played a crucial function in getting him and his animal dog, American akita Bear, off the streets for good.
“I think it’s a good thing [that the council has paused the cut] because obviously people that end up there wouldn’t have anywhere to go otherwise,” said Hall, who offers the publication at St Stephen’s Church in Exeter.
“Plus the fact it’s the only place in Exeter that takes a dog, so if you’ve got a dog that’s the only place you’re going to get out.
“I’d have been on the streets if I had to give up Bear. Same as most people with a dog would. I’d have been on the streets until I got a flat if it wasn’t for Gabriel House.”
Exeter homelessness charity St Petrock’s does not receive financing from the council however has actually likewise opposed the cuts, alerting that it might see an increase in the variety of individuals on the streets.
The federal government’s most recent main rough sleeping photo, which occurred last fall, saw the variety of rough sleepers counted in the city increase to 22 individuals, up from 14 in 2021.
Across Devon, the variety of individuals sleeping rough on any provided night increased by 44% when compared to 2021. This is almost double the nationwide typical increase of 26%.
A St Petrock’s representative said: “If the money is lost it could cause homelessness to double in Exeter, at a time when the numbers of rough sleepers are higher than they’ve ever been.
“Exeter Homelessness Forum, which is chaired by our director, Peter Stephenson, launched a high-profile campaign against the proposals in March and over 900 people objected to the plans across the county, so this is clearly something that local people feel very strongly about.
“We’re far from being out of the woods. However, we’re encouraged by the tone of councillor Hart’s words and are now beginning to hope that a positive way forward may be found.”
The argument over the financing in Devon comes as councils are having a hard time to fend off insolvency in the face of increasing need for services and inflationary expenses.
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Cash-strapped councils in Croydon, Woking, Thurrock and Slough have actually dealt with insolvency in recent times.
Kent County Council said in November it was likewise at threat of failing. The regional authority has actually already cut homelessness avoidance financing – councillors revealed the Kent Homeless Connect service would be decommissioned in September 2022. Local charity Porchlight informed The Big Issue the choice was “nonsensical”.
Peter Smith, director of sector advancement at Homeless Link, the nationwide subscription body for frontline homelessness services, said: “Prolonged inflation and historic under-funding mean Devon County Council, like local authorities across the country, is facing huge pressures to find savings in its budgets.
“But cutting homelessness funding is a dangerous and short-sighted decision that could lead to the closure of five hostel provisions across the county and a floating support service. Not only will it cause a sharp rise in rough sleeping, it will also be placing additional strain on valuable health and social care services, meaning the proposed savings represent a false economy.”
Smith included: “We hope that the council’s final decision demonstrates its commitment to providing good quality housing and support to some of the most vulnerable people within its jurisdiction.”
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