Government may cut Havering's Homelessness Prevention Grant

Conservative councillor David Taylor wrote to Romford MP Andrew Rosindell and the previous minister for local government, Paul Scully, requesting the government “urgently revisit” the grant after reportedly being told it faced an eight to 25 per cent reduction. 

“Rising inflation and a growing demand on our adult and social care budget means that Havering Council are having to find as much as £17 million of savings in this year alone,” he wrote. “We are on the edge and need your help.” 

In response, Adham Salam, who works in the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) team responsible for its homelessness strategy, outlined how proposed amendments to allocations were included as part of a recent consultation, and are “highly likely to change”. 

He added the department is also proposing caps on reductions of 5 per cent in 2023/24 and 10 per cent in 2024/25, to “mitigate against financial losses in the short-term". 

“We are currently reviewing all the responses and will be publishing our response alongside final allocations in due course,” he said. 

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Commenting on the Government's letter, Cllr Taylor said: "I am disappointed to read that a funding cut may go ahead. However, it's encouraging that this is likely to be smaller than expected and that the Government will work with Havering to manage this. 

"Havering's volunteers do a better job than any politician ever can, but they can't do it for free forever."

Cllr David Taylor wrote to the government asking it to 'revisit' proposed cuts to the Homeless Prevention Grant (Image: David Taylor)

Local MPs have come out against the proposed cuts to the grant, with Conservative MP for Romford, Andrew Rosindell, saying he would “lobby the Government in order to tackle the growing homelessness issue”.  

“I will be persisting with the cause for however long it takes for the current administration to pour in the resources that the council needs,” he said. 

Jon Cruddas, Labour MP for Rainham and Dagenham, meanwhile told the Recorder he had written to the previous secretary of state for DLUHC, Simon Clarke, asking for the grant to be raised. 

He said cutting it would be a "callous act", which would "make it almost impossible for the local council to meet the growing demand from homelessness".

Havering Council has previously said it is braced for a series of lawsuits, due to its inability to keep up with rising homelessness.