Image credit: Nick Fewings on Unsplash
An increased numbers of homeless people and inflation have left the council with a £9m budget deficit for the coming financial year, despite council’s plans to save.
In the last two years, Rotherham has seen a 46% rise in homelessness cases.
A report from August 2023 found Rotherham Council deals with around 130 new cases of homelessness every month, which is almost double the amount of cases compared with 2021.
Rotherham Council’s financial reports show the deficit is largely due to increased pressures surrounding children and adult social care, rising food costs for school catering, increased demand for homelessness services and rising property costs.
Will Wylclck, a spokesperson for the council said: “The Rotherham council plans to look at the issue from all possible angles to be able to eradicate it for good which is why we believe our revised plan will bring desirable outcomes.”
The Council has attempted to mitigate homelessness with an early intervention and support scheme: Rotherham’s Homelessness Prevention and rough sleeper strategy.
However, to continue the scheme and similar intervention programmes, the council say they will have to use their financial reserves to cover costs for 2023/24, and potentially for 2025/26.
This issue has only been worsened by the recent floods, caused by Storm Babet. The Council have said that “(They) are trying to make sure everyone has a roof over their heads” but there is no doubt the budget cut could be an issue in the upcoming months.
If you see someone in the Rotherham Borough you are concerned about please contact the Rotherham Council Homelessness Team 24/7 by ringing 01709 336009 between 8.30 and 5pm and 07748143170 outside of these hours.
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