Metro Mayors Urge Government To Extend Housing First Scheme

 Mayors from the North West of England and the West Midlands have joined together to call for an extension of the Housing First pilot scheme to tackle homelessness. The scheme has been hailed successful so far, as it has provided secure tenancies for 812 participants. But the pilot is due to come to an end in 2022, prompting concerns about whether support for participants will be able to continue. Issuing a joint statement, Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham, West Midlands mayor Andy Street and Liverpool mayor Steve Rotheram collectively urged the government to expand the Housing First scheme to become national policy. Read more on Inside Housing.

https://www.insidehousing.co.uk/home/home/metro-mayors-urge-government-to-extend-housing-first-scheme-71861?utm_source=Housing60&utm_medium=email&utm_content=article_link&utm_campaign=H60

Devolution Deals 'Short Change Cities On Housing', Claims Report

The new metro mayors are being “short changed” on housing, according to a report by left-leaning thinktank the Smith Institute.  Its report, launched today, found the six city regions which go to the polls to elect new mayors next month face escalating housing shortages, particularly for those on low incomes. The report estimates at least £2.2bn of grant funding is needed to provide social housing in the regions. Greater Manchester is short by £831m, the West Midlands by £945m, Liverpool City Region by £249m, and Cambridgeshire and Peterborough by £162m. The current housing allocations provide virtually no funding for low-cost housing in the city region. Read more on Inside Housing.