Deputy Mayor Stephen Simkins has called for a homelessness pilot project currently running in Birmingham and Coventry to be extended across the entire West Midlands region, warning that the current approach could create a 'stampede' to the two cities and put additional pressure on their local services.
£18 Million Approved for Supported Housing
The West Midlands Combined Authority's Investment Board has approved more than £18 million for the Supported Housing Funding Programme to tackle homelessness in Birmingham and Coventry. The funding will be used for supported housing, which provides accommodation alongside support for people who need help to live independently, including those experiencing or at risk of homelessness and rough sleeping.
Of the total £18,266,172, just over £13.4 million will be handed to Birmingham and more than £4.4 million to Coventry. A further £395,000 has been retained by the West Midlands Combined Authority for coordination and oversight of supported housing need across the region.
Pilot Originally Selected by Government
Earlier this year, Birmingham and Solihull were selected by the government to take part in a programme having been identified as areas with high demand. However, Deputy Mayor Simkins told members of the Investment Board that the pilot project should have been set up to cover the whole of the region.
According to Simkins, a broader pilot would help ensure there isn't a 'stampede' to Birmingham and Coventry, avoiding additional pressure on their local services. He said: 'I think we need a quarterly report on this, especially on the outputs. It's a pilot in Birmingham and Coventry but we want to see an impact it is having on other neighbouring authorities. I think there needs to be a bigger, strategic view. There shouldn't have been a pilot between just two authorities, it should have been across the seven Mets.'
Call for Strategic View and More Homes
Simkins emphasised the need for a conversation with the government about the potential for a 'stampede' of people moving to Birmingham and Coventry. He said: 'We need to have a conversation with Government to say, there is a potential to create a stampede where people are going to come to Birmingham and Coventry. Which puts more pressure on their local delivery. For me, that isn't a pilot. You need a pilot for the whole of the West Midlands.'
He also stressed the importance of building homes to solve homelessness: 'We need to look at how many homes can build. If you want to solve homelessness you build homes. We need to make sure we have an understanding of what the implications of across the region strategically. Outcomes are the key for us so we can see how it's made an impact in terms of changing people's lives, what the cost is in Birmingham and Coventry of services?'
