Purpose

The provision of supported housing is a key component
in meeting housing needs in the borough, – providing
accommodation for residents at a time of crisis or in response to a
challenging period such as experiencing homelessness. The Council
provides specific funding for the provision of housing support and it is essential that this funding is
awarded to experienced providers who understand local needs and can
offer much needed assistance to residents within the current
challenging housing landscape. This proposal seeks approval to
re-engage both the St Helens YMCA and Torus as providers of two key
services for the borough - hostel and refuge provision. The
attached report – which would have been presented to Cabinet
on 21 May 2025 - outlines the activity that has taken place to
ensure that these services reflect local needs, offer value for
money and deliver effective outcomes for our residents.
 
 
 

Decision

To
seek approval from the Leader of the Council for the following
recommendations:
 
(i)            
Approve the award of a contract for the provision of
housing related support services to St Helens YMCA for a period
from 1 June 2025 to 31 March 2027,
 
(ii)           
Approve the award of a contract to Torus for the
provision of a Refuge for a period from 1 June 2025 to 31 March
2027,
 
(iii)          
Delegate authority to the Executive Director Place
Services (in consultation with the Director of Legal &
Governance and Director of Finance) to execute all contract
documentation pursuant to recommendations 1 and 2 above.