What assessment did the Minister undertake of the rising costs on homelessness charities when determining the 2023-24 funding for the housing support grant?
As a result of UK government decisions, this was a budget delivered in a perfect storm of financial pressures, with our budget worth up to £1billion less next year than when it was originally announced.
Despite the extremely challenging environment, our 2023-24 Budget is designed to maximise the impact of our available resources, focusing on those most in need. We recognise the significant pressures facing frontline housing support services and the importance of the work they provide. Despite the extraordinary budgetary pressures we face, we have therefore maintained the £40m increase to the Housing Support Grant budget awarded in 2021-22 so that it remains at £166.763m.
In recognition of the wider pressures on homelessness services, the Homelessness Prevention Budget will increase by £15m in 2023-24, an additional £10m more than previously planned. This takes our investment in homelessness and housing support services to over £207m next year.