Decision details

Central government requires that rough sleepers and people at risk of rough sleeping be found accommodation during the Covid-19 crisis. People sleeping rough are at an unacceptably high risk of contracting the virus. Providing such persons with temporary accommodation reduces their exposure to Covid-19, and also provides the opportunity for them to be given assistance to prevent them being homeless in the future.

The County Council has negotiated a block booking rate with various hotels in the region. It will pay the nightly rates for individual homeless persons accommodated in these premises. The County Council shall be reimbursed by the district authorities from each person’s housing benefit entitlement.

1. To accord with central government’s requirements
2. To take advantage of block booking rates that would not be available to the authority acting on its own.
3. To regulate the reimbursement of the County Council via housing benefit payments.

Authority to accommodate homeless persons on its own. This option is still available to the Authority but is likely to be more expensive on a per individual basis.

None

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