Council’s housing sector supported by Welsh Government’s grant uplift

Following an uplift in Welsh Government’s Housing Support Grant (HSG) for 2024 to 2025, Bridgend County Borough’s Cabinet has approved modifying the contracts of housing support providers in alignment with the move.

The housing support sector across Wales has benefitted from a £13m increase, with Bridgend County Borough Council receiving a £600k uplift from Welsh Government (WG). The aim of the extra funding is to address pay pressures of commissioned providers across the sector, thereby delivering on WG’s broader commitment to Fair Work and the Real Living Wage.

This funding helps deliver an early intervention programme, to support actions that prevent people from becoming homeless, stabilises their housing situation, or helps potentially homeless people to find and keep accommodation.

Since the notification of the WG uplift in funds, the council has engaged with all the commissioned providers supported by the HSG to determine their current financial situation; ensuring that each has sufficient funding, and contracts are not in a deficit position.

Those found to be under funded, have been supported by maximising all funding streams, restructuring staff teams, or through the HSG uplift with the approval of Cabinet or via the council’s Scheme of Delegation.

This is such a positive move by Welsh Government.

With housing pressures at an all-time high, the HSG uplift could not have been offered at a more opportune time.

The generous amount of grant allocated will make strides in addressing the financial challenges currently experienced by the housing support sector and ensure that vital services are assisted.

Councillor Neelo Farr, Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Economic Development and Housing