£1.8 million on homes for vulnerable youngsters

Herefordshire is to spend £1.8 million buying up “at least ten” homes for young homeless people in the county.

Herefordshire Council confirmed its plan to “address gaps in homelessness for vulnerable young people (age 18-25) at risk or experiencing homelessness or rough sleeping”.

Half of the sum will come from a £910,000 government capital grant, while a further £402,000 comes from the NHS Better Care Fund.

The remaining £498,000 comes from so-called “section 106” funding, paid by developers into local community infrastructure as a condition of gaining planning permission for building projects in the county.

It will provide budget of up to £157,000 to buy each property, a further £15,000 for refurbishment, and £5,500 for surveys and legal fees.

These will serve as “stepping-stones towards independent living”, reducing the risk of young people falling back into homelessness and rough sleeping, the council said.

It confirmed it has already spent £147,500 on an unnamed property, which it says can be refurbished within the £15,000 budget.

The council has a statutory duty to house those who are unintentionally homeless, and a responsibility to boost the life chances of looked-after children and care leavers, its decision points out.