£450,000 spent on housing homeless people in Ryedale last year

Data obtained by the Gazette and Herald from RDC showed the council spent £450,000 on housing homeless people in 2021-22.

Of this figure, £151,000 was used to cover the costs of running hostels.

The amount shows the council continuing to invest in tackling homelessness in the district. 

Over the past three years, it can be observed that RDC’s spending on housing homeless people has increased annually.

In 2020-21, the council spent £364,000 on providing homes for homeless people, £126,000 of which was used for hostels.

In 2019-20, this number was £204,000 with £77,000 used for hostels.

It is noted that this spending on hostels, does not include the council’s specialist accommodation at Derwent Lodge and Bay house, which are not classed as temporary accommodation under Homeless Legislation.  

Bay House, Norton, was brought back into use by RDC, which purchased it in 2019 and worked with a local contractor to transform the space into eight flats and a small office space (Image: Ryedale District Council)

UK wide

Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities figures show that across England, an estimated £1.6 billion was used by local authorities towards short-term accommodation for people facing homelessness in 2021-22 – up 5 per cent from the previous year and a 62 per cent real-terms increase from five years ago.

Ryedale District Council

Phillip Spurr, director of place and resources for RDC said: “Ryedale District Council is making great progress towards its Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy 2020-25. 

"We take a holistic and collaborative approach to ensure that health, employment, income, social isolation, relationships and other issues which may affect an individual’s ability to maintain their home are considered.

“In 2021-22 we had 701 people approach us for advice or assistance, including 218 apply as homeless.

"We currently have nine households in short-term temporary accommodation and continue to working with landlords, customers and families to prevent or resolve homelessness at the earliest opportunity.

"We had two rough sleepers at our annual count in November 2021 and helped both find alternative accommodation.

"Our Officers also made a successful bid through Homes England and Commuted Sums to deliver the Next Steps accommodation scheme.

"This provided single people with intensive support to maintain their tenancy and complete a resettlement programme to move into independent accommodation.

"Since 2020, we have also been involved in the resettlement programmes for refugees.

“We have specialist accommodation in Ryedale – Derwent Lodge is a supported Accommodation Project for vulnerable people aged 16 and over in need of housing related support.

"Bay House offers eight self-contained flats which are move-on accommodation for local people who are currently in shared housing or supported accommodation and no longer require support.”

Anyone who sees someone sleeping rough in Ryedale can report it to Streetlink on 0300 500 0914 so the person can get help.