Millions set for supported housing

More than £18 million is set to be used to help tackle homelessness and rough sleeping in Birmingham and Coventry.

West Midlands Combined Authority’s Investment Board is being asked to back plans to deploy the money and implement proposals in the two cities when it meets on Monday (June 22).

The funding will be used for supporting housing, which provides accommodation alongside support for people who need help to live independently, including those experiencing or at risk of homelessness and rough sleeping.

In February this year, the Government selected 40 areas to participate in the Supported Housing Funding Programme.

The areas chosen were identified as having the highest levels of need with Birmingham and Coventry being the two selected from the West Midlands.

The £18,266,172 will see just over £13.4 million handed to Birmingham and more than £4.4 million for Coventry.

A total of £395,000 to be retained by West Midlands Combined Authority for  coordination and oversight of supported housing need across the region.

A report to the committee said: “Birmingham City Council proposes to use the funding to deliver 27 new 24/7 staffed supported housing units, including wheelchair-accessible provision, alongside enhanced support across existing services.

“This includes six female only emergency accommodation beds and ten block-purchased beds for individuals requiring care-level support outside of hospital discharge pathways.

“The majority of Birmingham’s funding allocation will be invested in providing additional support within existing Supported Exempt Accommodation (SEA), including both service-specific support and floating support across SEA provision.

“This enhanced support offer will provide a continuum of assistance, ranging from intensive stabilisation to support with move-on and independent living.

“In addition, eight dedicated caseworkers will operate proactively across the statutory homelessness pathway, supporting an estimated 240–320 individuals per year.

“Their role will be to help people access statutory homelessness assessments and prevention interventions, while maintaining engagement with those at high risk of rough sleeping.

“All proposed activity is additional to existing commissioned provision and will increase both supported housing capacity and the range of support services available.”

It added: “Coventry City Council proposes to create 66 new bed spaces and support around 215 people per year, centred on a 23-bed micro hostel for people with complex needs, 20 units of dedicated mental health supported accommodation, intermediate hospital and prison step-down beds, and expanded domestic abuse provision.

“This is complemented by enhanced support into existing schemes, an approved Mental Health Practitioner embedded in the homelessness pathway, and a range of resettlement and floating support roles focused on move-on from SEA and temporary accommodation and tenancy sustainment.

“Again, all activity is additional to existing commissioned provision.”