Homelessness is getting worse in Coventry - and council tax payers are footing the bill

[dutchman]

Charity is warning that the problem is increasing as council admits it is helping fuel a £2.8million funding gap



A charity is warning that the number of homeless people and rough sleepers in Coventry are rising and the problem is only likely to get worse.

Coventry City Council revealed on Monday that large rates of homelessness are helping drive a £2.8million funding gap for the 2018-2019 financial year, along with a rising number of looked-after children.

Benefits reforms and a lack of affordable and sheltered accommodation are said to be the main reasons for the increase.

The council is now looking at ways to plug the gap, which it has promised will not involve any new cuts, ahead of government legislation coming into force in April that will increase local authorities’ responsibilities for homeless people.

Coventry Foodbank is working alongside other groups on the front line.

Project manager Hugh McNeill said: “We have been aware that there is an increase in the number of homeless people in Coventry.

“We work with other groups, including the Coventry Winter Night Shelter, to support homeless people as best we can.

“For us we are very much aware of what’s gong on in the city at this time and are there to support anybody that needs to be helped.”

Mike Fowler, chief executive of Coventry Cyrenians , who support homeless people, was not surprised by the strain being placed on the council’s budget.

He said: “I’m with the council on this one.

“All the statistics show that homelessness affecting single people and families has risen year on year since 2010.

“It had been going down from the turn of the century.

“The problem is definitely a lot worse and it is forecast to get worse as well.”

Mr Fowler cited a lack of affordable housing, a squeeze on wages and living standards and benefits reforms as fuelling the problem.

He believes the Labour-led council faces more burden when it takes on extra responsibilities under the government’s Homelessness Reduction Act, which comes into force in April.

Mr Fowler said: “In terms of the budget the Homelessness Reduction Act puts a lot more obligation on the local authority in terms of what they have to do for people who have not previously been accommodated.

“From a budget perspective I’m not at all surprised at what’s having to happen. There’s simply not enough affordable housing.”