Purpose

The Homelessness Prevention Grant is an annual grant given by the Government to all Local Authorities to run their homelessness services. The distribution of the grant to Local Authorities reflects relative homelessness pressures. The allocation for Leeds in 2023/24 is £2,528,524 and in 2024/25 is £2,660,341. The use of the grant is ringfenced to prevention and relief of homelessness. The Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities has also announced funding to help local authorities support Ukrainian guests as they move into their second year, and to reduce the risk of homelessness. The funding is allocated in the form of a top-up to the existing Homelessness Prevention Grant, and the same conditions apply to the top up. Leeds has been allocated £873,958. 

The decision seeks approval to accept the grants and its proposed allocations.

Decision

The Director of Communities, Housing and Environment gave approval for

a) acceptance of the Homelessness Prevention Grant 2023/2024 and 2024/25.

b) the budget allocation of the Homelessness Prevention Grant 2023/2024 as set out in Appendix 1, with the same approach to be applied to the Homelessness Prevent Grant 2024/2025. 

c) acceptance of the Homes for Ukraine top-up to the Homelessness Prevention Fund and the breakdown of its allocation as set out in Appendix 2.

d) acceptance of any future funding from Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities that is paid in the form of a top up to the Homelessness Prevention Grant within 2023-2025 with its allocation set by Leeds Housing Options in a way that meets service demand and pressures, and achieves key objectives at that time.

e) the creation of 3x C1 Housing Adviser posts on the Leeds Housing Options structure, recruited to on a fixed term contract basis for two years.