A scheme helping to reduce homelessness by using up properties nobody else wants is to continue, writes Mark Templeton.

Oxford City Council has been placing some homeless people in council homes classed as hard to let.

The houses fall into the category after being offered and refused three times to existing tenants. They are left empty until an occupier can be found.

In the last year, 32 of these properties have gone to homeless families and individuals, generating £94,277 for the council through housing benefit. It is estimated that 117 single people are put in temporary bed and breakfast accommodation by the council each year - at a cost of £1m.

A report to the housing committee, which has backed the project, said: "The properties identified as hard to let are transferred to homelessness to let on a short-term tenure.

"There is also a reduction in costs in placing families in bed and breakfast accommodation of approximately £300 per family per week."

It is understood houses are usually turned down because of undesirable locations or their poor condition.

But the council carries out some repair work before moving people in - so far at a cost of £33,071. The committee also gave its backing to use some empty council properties earmarked for demolition in Barton for short-term use to accommodate the homeless.

Last year, Oxford had the highest number of people sleeping rough outside central London.

Four hostels in the city with 206 beds are said to have been full every night for the last year and 100 people classed as having no fixed abode are on the council's housing register.

Oxford Night Shelter also took in 1,149 individuals in the last 12 months.

The council has set up a special project group with health chiefs, church groups and representatives of the homeless to tackle the problem

Story date: Wednesday 08 December

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