REDDITCH Borough Council has agreed provide a £50,000 cash pot to help tenants facing financial hardship.
At a full council meeting, a recommendation to use monies from the Housing Revenue Account budget to set up a Homelessness Prevention Hardship Fund was given the green light.
The Hardship Fund, set to be launched in July, will support those at risk of becoming homeless.
It will be used to provide temporary support to tenants who find themselves in difficult financial circumstances and help individuals and families to remain in their homes while establishing financial independence.
Coun Bill Hartnett, whose portfolio covers housing, said: “Enabling and supporting our tenants to be financial independent is important but we do recognise people can find themselves in circumstances which feel out of their control.
“This fund will help prevent families from becoming homeless and our officers will then put measures in place to secure financial stability for them going forward.”
The fund will also support tenants to maximise their benefits entitlement and also explore other income opportunities and signposting where appropriate.
Council leader Coun Joe Baker said: “We pledged to help support our most vulnerable residents and we are doing just that.
“This is a fresh start for Redditch Borough Council and its customers and communities who are the heart of everything we do.”
The Standard reported in October last year that 26 per cent of adults who lived in the region said they currently had a deficit budget, which meant their income did not cover their basic essentials.
Oasis Christian Centre partnered with Christians Against Poverty (CAP) to help people struggling financially and offeried free debt advice to those in need.
Christians Against Poverty’s Redditch debt centre manager Caroline Gray said: “This new report shows the brutal reality of living on a shockingly low income and how easy it can be to fall into debt.
“Whether it’s caring for a loved one, ill-health or a lack of suitable work opportunities, many people’s circumstances mean they have no or limited options to increase their income.”
