Decision details

1.    Providing start-up funding for temporary emergency accommodation

2.    To enter into a Service Level Agreement to allow the Council to place into these units.

P3 have offered the Council access to temporary accommodation within a property they lease comprising 6 x Studio flats and 1 x 1 bedroom flat.  P3 have offered to use these spaces to house homeless applicants as an alternative to bed and breakfast, supporting our aspirations to reduce reliance on B&B. Subject to start-up funding of £2,000 per bedspace and a Service Level Agreement being entered into, these units will be available quickly.

P3 already provide intensive housing management and accommodation-based support to Gloucester City Council using other schemes, so the systems and processes are already in place to mobilise this scheme quickly. The initial length of P3 lease is 2 years. The monies for start-up funding from the Council will be covered by external DLUHC Winter Pressures funding 23/24.

The LA can decide not to enter into the agreement with P3, this will mean continued expenditure being incurred to meet the difference between the cost of bed and breakfast placements and housing benefit received. The provision would still be used by P3 and this would create a potential risk of P3 housing people from outside of Gloucester who then may present as homeless to the council if they are evicted from the accommodation.