Leicestershire County Council Proposed to remove £300,000 from budget towards homeless support.

An estimated 1,400 people were homeless across the county on any given night last year. Homelessness charity Shelter recently revealed the figure, adding that the number is made up of both those sleeping rough and those in temporary accommodation.

Almost a third of those without a permanent residence were children (449), according to the charity, which added it is “bracing for a spike in homelessness” this year. Across the county, there was the equivalent of one homeless person per 770 residents.

Charnwood had the highest rate of homelessness per capita, with Shelter's figures accounting for one in 496 people living in a hostel, temporary accommodation, or on the streets in the borough, The county Councills proposed budget cut will directly impact The Falcon Centre.

We understand Leicestershire County Council have an important role in ensuring the public have confidence in how they manage their finances and are in a situation where difficult decisions have to be made in challenging times.

Falcon Support Services are commissioned to deliver the provision of 30 hostel-based beds for service users requiring emergency accommodation. Whilst we feel there is opportunity for services to be re-modelled and savings to be made, withdrawing the funding for homelessness services which provides supported accommodation to over 100 homeless individuals per year will inevitably increase rough sleeping in Leicestershire.

The consultation in December 2022 in relation to the Mid-Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) already identified the public’s number 1 objection was to the cost savings related to community wellbeing/community safety/homelessness, and we implore Leicestershire County Council to listen to the public on what matters to them.

We welcome the opportunity to consult on cutting funding for homeless support services and encourage as many people as possible to fully engage and express their views. We respectfully ask that Leicestershire County Council use this consultation to seriously consider moving away from the MTFS, and work in partnership with the districts to find a solution which protects accommodation and support for the homeless.

Please have your say here: Homeless support services | Leicestershire County Council