Written question asked by Claire Curtis-Thomas (Labour) on Tuesday, 27 January 2009, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 29 January 2009. It was answered by Iain Wright (Labour) on Wednesday, 4 February 2009 on behalf of the Department for Communities and Local Government.
Homelessness
- Question
- To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (1) what support services are offered by her Department to help homeless people find housing; and if she will make a statement;
- Answer
-
The Government take all aspects of homelessness very seriously. We have allocated over £200 million to local authorities and voluntary organisations over the next three years (2008-11) to tackle and prevent homelessness in their area. This is the biggest ever cash injection for homelessness services.Over recent months Government have announced a series of measures and new funding that will help homeowners remain in their home wherever possible. This help includes the £200 million Mortgage Rescue Scheme which should enable up to 6,000 of the most vulnerable households to avoid repossession; the Homeowner Mortgage Support Scheme which will allow households to defer payment on their mortgage for up to two years; and substantial changes to Support for Mortgage Interest by reducing the waiting time from 39 weeks to 13 weeks, and increasing the capital limit to £200,000.In addition, my Department has provide £2.5 million funding to the National Homelessness Advice Service (NHAS) which is a partnership between Shelter and the Citizens Advice Bureaux (CABx) providing high quality advice on homelessness prevention through the network of participating CABx and other voluntary agencies across England. The funding will also help to strengthen NHAS responses to support those people facing repossession. This will involve training 1,000 front line advice workers in Shelter and CABx which NHAS will also roll out to local authorities.In November 2008 we launched ““No One Left Out: communities ending rough sleeping””, an action plan developed with leading rough sleeping charities which uses action, advice and assistance across England to prevent the flow of people onto the streets, as well as to support those already there to get off the streets into stability. This is supported by our ““Places of Change”” programme which is transforming services for rough sleepers. £80 million has been provided for the period 2008-11.The Supporting People programme provides housing-related support to the most vulnerable in society. In December 2007 we announced a further £4.9 billion funding up to 31 March 2011Government have also provided additional funding for advice services. Last year CLG funded 40 court desks that provide free legal representation at repossession hearings and are successful in 85 per cent. of cases where people attend court. We continue to review court desk funding.The Department also monitors local authorities' activities under the homelessness legislation.
Secondary information
- Type
- Written question
- Reference
- 487 c1284-5W; 253405
- Session
- 2008-09
- Related items
- Subjects
- Homelessness
- Link
- View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk
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- 2020-04-09 14:43:25 +0100
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