REDDITCH Borough Council together with other Worcestershire authorities has awarded a contract to support people at risk of homelessness to Caring for Communities and People (CCP – www.ccp.org.uk).
Funding for the county’s single person’s and childless couple’s homeless prevention service will rise to £301,500 a year – an increase over the previous level of £240,000 annually.
The county-wide service has been commissioned by district councils across Worcestershire, and will be jointly funded and managed by them and the county council.
The leader of Redditch Borough Council, Councillor Matt Dormer said: “While we have low numbers of homelessness in the borough, this service provides support to people to help prevent them becoming homeless in the first place.”
The borough’s portfolio-holder for housing, Coun Craig Warhurst, added: “Already, with CCP and other partners, we identify and offer support to rough sleepers in our community. This contract is another example of great joint working to help our most vulnerable residents.”
The new two-year contract with CCP will run from October 1, 2019 to the end of September 2021.
The new single person’s and childless couple’s homeless prevention service will see the number of emergency shelters for rough sleepers across Worcestershire rise from two to five.
The Shelters will be in Worcester, Evesham, Kidderminster, Malvern and Redditch, providing more localised assistance.
The Redditch shelter last year was at the Salvation Army hall in Ipsley Street. No decision has been made yet on where this year’s one will be located.
CCP will open the shelters on any night when the temperature is predicted to fall to zero or below, in line with Worcestershire’s Severe Weather Emergency Protocol.
