How Is Birmingham Cutting £10m From Homelessness Fund?

Birmingham’s housing chief has been challenged to spell out how he plans to cut £10 million from the city’s homelessness budget at a time when rough sleeping is on the rise. Labour cabinet member Coun Peter Griffiths was grilled by a backbench housing scrutiny committee over the proposed cuts of £5.2 million this year and a further £4.8 million in 2018 from the city’s £24 million Supporting People fund. The fund pays charities, social landlords and housing agencies to provide facilities and support services for the homeless - including rough sleepers or those fleeing domestic violence. The brutal, proposed cut has been widely criticised by agencies and politicians. It was also announced in the wake of the death of a rough sleeper in the city centre. Read more on the Birmingham Post website.