A SCHEME is being piloted to provide dedicated temporary housing for families facing homelessness.
The Redditch Borough Council project, in collaboration with non-profit housing provider Cornerstone Partnership, hopes to fulfill the council’s duty to house people awaiting homelessness applications.
The move is part of a wider review of how the council meets its duty to provide temporary accommodation as the ongoing cost-of-living pressures risk increases in homelessness.
Borough council portfolio holder for housing, Coun Craig Warhurst, said: “Most of the council’s work in this area is helping people who find themselves in difficulty to avoid homelessness in the first place, but unfortunately that’s not always possible, and then we have a duty to temporarily house those who have made a homelessness application.
“It’s not like allocating council housing, there must be suitable temporary accommodation available and we’ve identified that more and better provision is needed for families.
“That’s why we’re running this pilot scheme with Cornerstone, which is being monitored closely as part of a review of all temporary accommodation provision this year.
“We need appropriate, cost-effective solutions.”
Council leader, Coun Matt Dormer, added: “Meeting rising demand for council services, particularly with the current cost of living, is a real challenge and our housing services are no different.
“We have to plan for the future while ensuring our services meet residents’ needs today.”
