Lincolnshire council proposes cuts to homeless support service

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 5 Nov, 17:40 · Archive

Lincolnshire County Council proposes cutting a 'floating housing' service that supports 128 vulnerable people.

Lincolnshire County Council is proposing to cut its 'floating housing' service, which currently supports 128 people at risk of homelessness due to mental health or substance issues. The Reform administration says the service is not 'financially sustainable' and wants to redirect part of the funding towards care leavers instead. Accommodation for 195 homeless people provided by the council will not be affected.

A public consultation found overwhelming support for maintaining the service. Councillors expressed concern that the cut could leave vulnerable people without support and at risk of becoming homeless. Labour Councillor Karen Lee said: 'People in floating housing are still very vulnerable, and not used to managing a household. I'm worried that if that support is taken away, they could end up back on the street.' She also highlighted the mental health implications and noted that the average age of death for people on the streets in Lincoln is 47, compared with 77 for the general population.

Concerns were raised that the NHS, police and councils would face greater pressure as a result of the cut. The health committee discussed the proposal on 4 November.

How it is being reported

• Fears that cuts to homeless support could ‘put people back on the street’Help for people who are at risk of homelessness because of other issues could be cut in Lincolnshire.Lincolnshire World · 5 Nov, 17:14
• Fears that cuts to homeless support could ‘put people back on the street’It helps over 120 vulnerable people keep their homes, but the council says it's not "financially sustainable"Lincolnshire Live · 4 Nov, 15:46

In this story: Lincolnshire County Council · Karen Lee · Lincolnshire

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