Hastings Borough Council shocked at decision by East Sussex County Council to go ahead with drastic cuts to floating housing support

Hastings Borough Council is very disappointed that East Sussex County Council have agreed to cut 88% of their countywide floating housing support contract and 100% of funding to two supported housing services within Hastings. 

These services work closely with Hastings Borough Council officers on preventing homelessness. The floating support services prevented the homelessness of 240 households in Hastings last year, and the supported accommodation provides supported homes to 31 Hastings residents who would otherwise by homeless.

Without these services, it could cost Hastings Borough Council £15m in additional temporary accommodation costs over four years. 

Cllr Julia Hilton, leader of the council, said: “This decision is particularly shocking as it is contrary to over 80% of the 1425 consultation responses sent to ESCC and to the county council’s own Equality Impact Assessment (EIA). The people most affected by this decision will be those who are facing the most barriers to finding and securing housing and will lead to more evictions and more people being pushed into rough sleeping.

“Ultimately the added costs created will need to be paid for by East Sussex Council taxpayers and will lead to increased suffering by vulnerable people. Conversations around proposed Local Government Reorganisation means these future costs will be faced by one single council in the future with responsibilities for both housing and social care, which makes the proposals even more short-sighted. We understand and empathise with the financial plight the county council is facing, however the answer is not to seek short-term savings, which simply create far more cost in future years.  We heard this morning that Brighton Housing Trust and the boroughs and districts have a mere 34 days before the contract is ended to come up with an alternative solution. This decision is not based on proper long-term decision making and makes no economic sense.”