Government funds schemes to house homeless across England

Kensington and Chelsea, one of the richest local authorities in the UK, has successfully bid for a chunk of government cash to help homeless people in the borough get into their own homes.

The government said it was allocating £19.5m to 54 housing projects across England to assist homeless people “or those at risk of becoming homeless” to secure their own tenancy.

Housing minister Heather Wheeler said the money would be shared among the schemes, which would then help people pay for a rental deposit or a first month’s rent.

A spokesperson for the MHCLG said local authorities would be able to offer a range of homes including newly-built properties.

Among the 54 successful bidders for the cash – which comes out of the Private Rented Sector Access Fund, part of the government’s £100m Rough Sleeping Strategy fund – are 15 London councils, including Kensington and Chelsea, as well as Birmingham and Manchester city councils, and the city council of Cambridge.

The number of homeless people across the UK is said to be in the region of 320,000, according to charity Shelter, with the problem being particularly acute in the capital.

The funding would help open up the private rented sector to people who needed it, Wheeler said. “I want everyone to have the security, dignity and opportunities they need to build a better life – at the heart of which is ensuring everyone can find a safe and secure home to call their own,” she added.

The government said it would also examine ways to stop private landlords from refusing to rent properties to people on housing benefit.

Wheeler said she would meet with key stakeholders “to tackle the practice of ‘No DSS’ in adverts” and to underline the need for immediate change.