Devon says, “Homelessness prevention funding will continue!”

On Friday 9th February, almost a year since our campaigning began, we heard the fantastic news that Devon County Council will continue to fund the 18+ Homeless Prevention Contribution until March 2025.   

In a Devon County Council Cabinet meeting, Councillor James McInnes confirmed that due to additional funding announced in the Secretary of State’s Written Statement on 24 January 2024, the Cabinet is now able to ‘retain the budget for the Authority’s contributions to homelessness services, providing further time for engagement with districts on the longer-term arrangements.’ 

“This news is a wonderful result for all those who seek to help the homeless all across Devon,” says YMCA Exeter Joint CEO, Si Johns. “For YMCA Exeter, the £157,000 a year we receive from DCC enables us to intercede at the crisis point of a young person’s life and give them the tailored, supported care they need to move forward.”

“We appreciate that councils across the country are under enormous financial pressures, but Devon County Council has made an excellent decision today. Funding Supported Housing for the homeless, saves lives and saves money. We hope that other Local Authorities across the country will see the wise decision of Devon and consider their own services.

“We’d like to say thank you to Devon County Council for listening to the voices of service users and the general public, calling for this essential funding to continue.”