Completion of Nottingham's home renovation project aimed at tackling homelessness
In a bid to address the growing homelessness issue, Nottingham City Council has announced a new housing scheme backed by over £3 million in funding. The initiative is part of the government’s Emergency Accommodation Reduction Pilot (EARP) for 2025/26, targeting the 20 local authorities with the highest long-term use of bed & breakfast (B&B) accommodation for homeless families.
The funding, named the Homelessness Prevention Grant, will be used specifically for statutory duties requiring the council to provide accommodation for homeless people who have a local connection to Nottingham. This support extends to both families and individuals in need of housing.
The funding will also enhance the Nottingham Private Rented Assistance Scheme (NPRAS), which helps homeless households secure private rental properties as a more stable alternative to temporary accommodation.
Nottingham is currently grappling with significant homelessness challenges. Last year saw an 8% rise in homeless households, with roughly 128 new homeless households seeking council support each week. There are nearly 2,000 open homelessness cases, including 700 families in emergency or temporary accommodation and over 450 single individuals in supported housing.
The pilot aims to test innovative approaches to reduce reliance on expensive and unsuitable B&B accommodation, improving outcomes for homeless families and potentially curbing the increasing homelessness rates in the city.
The scheme will see the delivery of four self-contained homes, renovated at a cost of £330,000 each, fully furnished, and intended for single adults at risk of homelessness. These properties will be managed by Places for People, an organization that has helped over 10,000 people escape homelessness risks in the past year.
Places for People Living Plus will join the local partnership to deliver these new homes, aiming to provide more sustainable housing solutions and better prevention, leading to a reduction in homelessness rates over time.
Cllr Jay Hayes, portfolio holder for housing and ward cllr for Bestwood, expressed pleasure about the grant funding maximizing the delivery of the city's Ending Rough Sleeping plan. Rachel Crownshaw, group managing director for communities at Places for People, claimed that the new scheme will further their efforts to combat homelessness.
It's worth noting that Nottingham has one of the highest homelessness rates in the East Midlands, with one in 201 people experiencing homelessness. In 2022, over 1,614 people were recorded as homeless on a given night, according to figures published by Shelter in 2023.
The service provided by the new homes will not only offer a place to live but also a bespoke plan to help tenants tackle obstacles and access support services. After two years, tenants will be supported to move into longer-term accommodation, freeing up the properties for other at-risk individuals.
This new housing scheme is part of a broader effort by local charities and housing associations to combat homelessness in Nottingham and the wider East Midlands region. The pilot’s performance will be critical in evaluating its long-term effectiveness in addressing the homelessness crisis in the city.
- The Homelessness Prevention Grant, a £3 million funding, is being used to support social enterprise Places for People in managing four self-contained houses for single adults at risk of homelessness, as part of Nottingham City Council's efforts to reduce the city's growing homelessness issue.
- As part of the Emergency Accommodation Reduction Pilot (EARP) for 2025/26, the new housing scheme aims to test innovative approaches to minimize reliance on expensive and unsuitable bed & breakfast (B&B) accommodation, providing more sustainable lifestyle solutions for homeless families in Nottingham.
- In an attempt to combat homelessness and curb increasing rates, the new homes will not only serve as a place to live but also offer bespoke plans to help tenants access support services and eventually transition into longer-term accommodation, freeing up the properties for other at-risk individuals, becoming a business model for further reducing homelessness in Nottingham.
