YMCA EXETER is relieved and thankful to hear that Devon County Council has pressed pause on plans to stop funding support for homeless people.
The news was announced by Devon County Council on Tuesday 8th August, less than a week after the special Health and Adult Social Care Scrutiny Committee meeting where Vice Chair, Martin Wrigley stated, “If you go ahead with this instantaneous cliff-edge cut in 10 weeks’ time it will be devastating.”
YMCA Exeter currently provides all of its services to effectively transform the lives of 85 young people who live in its supported accommodation at any one time for a cost of just £5 per day. Devon County Council’s proposed plans to remove £157,000 worth of funding to YMCA Exeter would have left hundreds of vulnerable young people at risk of homelessness.
YMCA Exeter Joint CEO, Si Johns says:
“Thank you Devon County Council for listening to the public, the service providers and those that have bravely shared their stories of moving on from homelessness through the invaluable support of prevention services.
“Thank you for reading the material that was passed to you by service providers, evidencing how much prevention saves statutory services a vast amount of money.
“Whilst YMCA Exeter is relieved and thankful to hear that Devon County Council are committing to fund providers until the end of the financial year, it is our hope and expectation that they will continue to fund homeless prevention as many other local authorities do across the country to great effect for many years to come.”
YMCA Exeter is keen to work with the county and districts to build a longer-term strategy to prevent homelessness. And during this period of re-evaluation and listening, YMCA Exeter is committed to continuing to help Devon County Council gather the evidence and data they need to understand how best to provide ongoing homelessness support across the county.
ENDS
Notes to Editors
For media information:
Contact Lucy Pieterse, lucy.pieterse@ymcaexeter.org.uk, 01392 410530.
About YMCA Exeter: YMCA Exeter is one of the oldest YMCAs in the world, founded in 1846. Part of the worldwide YMCA movement, YMCA Exeter is a local charity and a Registered Provider of Social Housing working across Greater Exeter and North Devon. The charity provides services in Supported Accommodation, Offender Rehabilitation, Mental Health and Wellbeing, and Youth Services so that all young people can thrive in body, mind and spirit. For more information see www.ymcaexeter.org.uk
