Falcon Support Services await final decision on LCC cuts tomorrow

Leicestershire County Council are closing in on their final decision as to whether they will or will not be removing their funding for homeless support.

They currently provide £300,000 worth of funding for homelessness support in Leicestershire. £210,00 of that Falcon Support Services receive to enable us in delivering our specialised face-to-face homelessness support services.

In real terms, the Council propose to remove 100% of their funding for homelessness support. If these short-sighted plans are to go ahead, it would result in the closure of our flagship 30-bed provision, The Falcon Centre.

The direct effects of closure of The Falcon Centre stretch much further than the 100 people experiencing homelessness who are accommodated here in a single year. It is from this hub that we deliver our vital face to face drop in which has 50-60 daily visits from members of the community to access a multitude of our services such as... housing support and advice, help accessing benefits, employability coaching, help in gaining qualifications, harm reduction support including needle exchange and advice on how to stay safe, recovery support, hot drinks and subsidised meals to assist in the rising cost of living crisis, signposting to other services, laundry and shower facilities for rough sleepers, assistance in signing up to a GP... We could go on.

Tomorrow we will hear the result from the cabinet meeting which determines the future of The Falcon Centre. We wish to remain optimistic for the results. However, 2 weeks ago during the councils Health Overview and scrutiny meeting they unfortunately approved the paper to go to Cabinet to cease funding a dedicated homeless support service.

Us and the 74% of contributions to the public consultation disagree with the proposed cuts.

We implore Leicester County Council to fully consider the implications of removing their funding to homeless support and act in the best interest of the 1400 people in Leicestershire who are experiencing homelessness.