GOVERNMENT funding for a programme keeping more than 300 homeless people off the streets is to end in September.

In 12 months 1,035 people were referred to services delivered for the Oxfordshire Trailblazer project by Aspire Oxford and Connection Support.

The Trailblazer scheme, costing £890,000, was designed to provide early intervention before people reached crisis point and has prevented homelessness in up to half of 'completed' cases referred to support services launched last year.

Oxford Mail:

In March there were 37 rough sleepers in Oxford, according to one count, while an estimate in November, which relies on additional data, said there were 94. A number of rough sleepers in the city have died.

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Trailblazer is a partnership between the county's five district councils and works with health, criminal justice, social care and other services to identify and help people at risk of homelessness as early as possible.

In 706 completed cases, there were 326 positive outcomes that either prevented people from becoming homeless or secured accommodation for people experiencing homelessness – 46 per cent of completed cases.

Oxford Mail:

It seems unlikely the city council and other district councils will be able to continue the work on the same scale once government funding - about £790,000 - ends.

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Mike Rowley, cabinet member for affordable housing, said: "We face the obstacle that there is, so far as we know at present, no continued funding.

"General central government grant to the city council is now zero, and all council resources are fully committed, including major increases in our discretionary spending on homelessness services - most notably, of course, Floyds Row, which is on track to open ready for this winter, a real step up in what's available for people who become street homeless in Oxford.

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"We will of course make a strong case for funding to continue, as Trailblazer has achieved great things for some of our most vulnerable citizens - and we will explore all possibilities for continuing the services we provide."

Paul Roberts, chief executive officer at Aspire Oxford, pledged that some work would continue, using methods learned during the pilot scheme.

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He added: "Aspire will be continuing to provide a core homelessness prevention service once the pilot funding comes to an end, using the learning and impact from the pilot to reach those most in need.

Oxford Mail:

"By identifying people at risk of homelessness at the earliest possible stage we've made a huge difference in helping them sustain their tenancies, find new accommodation and protect them from becoming homeless.

“This project highlights how critically important the early intervention preventative approach to homelessness really is."

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Deputy leader of the council Linda Smith said: "Oxfordshire Trailblazer services show that early intervention to help people before they reach crisis point produces real results, preventing or ending homelessness in nearly half of completed referrals. This intervention can be as straightforward as helping a family get financial advice so they can keep paying the rent and avoid eviction."

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) provided the bulk of funding for the Trailblazer project.

It is part of a £40m MHCLG programme testing new approaches to homelessness prevention work by councils.

Funding was made up of £790,000 from the MHCLG, £50,000 from Oxford City Council, and £50,000 from Cherwell, South Oxfordshire, Vale of White Horse and West Oxfordshire district councils.

Oxford Mail:

Aspire Oxford's team of community navigators proactively seek out and support their clients to work with services that can help prevent homelessness and sustain tenancies.

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Community navigators also support people with other issues including benefits, debt, social isolation and finding work.

Connection Support’s embedded housing workers advise staff in hospitals, prisons, probation and children’s social care services on housing and homelessness prevention options.

In 10 particular cases, the average public expenditure saving as the result of a successful Oxfordshire Trailblazer intervention was £13,900.

Oxford Mail:

The city council spent more than £2m in 2018/2019 on tackling homelessness and is planning to provide accommodation for all rough sleepers by the winter.

It is spending £1m to convert a former JobCentre in Floyds Row off St Aldate's into a hub for rough sleepers and it is expected to open before the end of the year.