COUNCIL’S EXTRA £15M INVESTMENT TO TACKLE HOMELESSNESS
Croydon council are investing a further £15m into helping households at risk of homelessness to get private rented properties.
Since 2013 Croydon have already invested £30m in the Real Lettings Fund, a joint scheme with charity St Mungo’s that manages good-quality, long-term housing for 151 households who would otherwise be in short-term, emergency accommodation.
By funding these properties, ranging from studio flats to three-bedroom homes, the scheme also cuts the amount of money the council needs to spend on emergency bed and breakfasts.
So far, the Real Lettings Fund has enabled Croydon council to:
• House 169 people in total
• Cut its annual bed and breakfast bill by over £1 million
The latest £15m will provide a further 47 two-bedroom properties, said a council spokesman.
“The council got involved in the scheme in response to rising demand for affordable private sector rented accommodation, and to offer low-income households access to a market that they would struggle to access on their own.
“The Real Lettings Fund provides the accommodation through the council identifying those needing help and then passing them to St Mungo’s, who find a property to sub-let on a renewable 12-month tenancy.
“Families remain at these properties for three years on average. “St Mungo’s also gives extra support to improve the householders’ job prospects and signposts them to other organisations if needed.
Cllr Alison Butler, Croydon’s cabinet member for homes, regeneration and planning, said: “I’m proud of our £30m investment in the Real Lettings Fund, which has already given a decent long-term home and jobseeking support to 150 Croydon households, but we recognise there is a housing crisis in Croydon and we need to do more.
“This extra £15m investment will support dozens more households into a place of their own, help tackle demand and further cut our use of emergency accommodation, which is not only bad for families but expensive for the council.” (Source: Croydon council press release)
