£62K spent on emergency accommodation in 12-month period

Six-month progress report published on Homelessness Strategy

More than £62,000 was spent providing emergency accommodation for homeless people in a year.

The spend covered the 12 months between February 2023 and February 2024.

Between February last year and June this year 63 individuals and two families were helped with overnight housing.

The Housing and Communities Board has published a six-month progress report following the implementation of the Homelessness Strategy in December.

It claims it’s made ‘significant progress’ including ‘the completion of a number of actions, effective stakeholder engagement and an initial positive impact’.

These include producing a ‘working definition of homelessness’, conducting a ‘comprehensive mapping exercise’ of support already available and looking at signposting.

The board adds it is ‘on track’ to develop a wraparound support service for people who need emergency overnight housing.

This will include appointing two lead professionals for the Eastern Wellbeing Partnership, four community workers to work within the Wellbeing Partnerships and devising a ‘communication plan’.

However the board has highlighted a number of issues it’s faced including ‘logistical challenges’ with the availability of accommodation over peak periods including TT and Christmas.

It adds that a number of people who have been using the bed and breakfast accommodation provided by government have ‘very high support needs’.

This, it says, has led to challenges in securing ‘next stage’ accommodation for them.

Almost £6,000 had to be spent on damages caused to emergency housing provision. 

Chair David Ashford said: “There are many reasons why people become homeless.

“There is not a single solution for homelessness.

“People without a place to stay, or at risk of being homeless, require the health and social care that meets their specific needs whether they are an individual or a family.

“The significant progress of the Homelessness Strategy action plan is the result of the strategic partnership which has brought together thinking from key areas of government and the experience of third sector organisations such as Housing Matters, The Salvation Army and Praxis Care.”

The Housing and Communities Board says it will now plan ahead for busy periods by looking to prebook a certain number of beds in advance with local accommodation providers.

It will also look at supplying alternative accommodation for those not suitable for the B+B model.

You can find out more HERE.

Manx Radio spoke to Mr Ashford following the report's publication: