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.

Content

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.