Extension of supported housing contracts proposed

Housing support services for vulnerable and homeless people in Peterborough look set to continue after councillors were asked to extend the current contracts.

The city council has three contracts with organisations that provide a total of 138 units of supported accommodation for homeless households.

The cabinet is recommended to approve a one-year extension of housing related support contracts from 1 April 2027 to 31 March 2028 at a cost of £425,575, which will be funded by the council's existing housing related support budget.

The proposals are designed to ensure continuity of services until the council completes its new Supported Housing Needs Assessment and Strategy.

A report being put before cabinet members recommends an extension of the current contracts with an option to extend for a further year after that, if necessary.

It stated: "The extension will ensure continuity of critical accommodation and support services whilst the council completes a Supported Housing Needs Assessment and Supported Housing Strategy which will inform future supported housing commissioning and procurement arrangements."

Alternative decisions, such as doing nothing, "would create a significant risk for vulnerable residents, homelessness prevention and relief activities and accommodation pathways".

"It would also lead to service disruption and increased demand on statutory homelessness services and temporary accommodation," the report said.

The proposals will be discussed at a meeting of the council's cabinet on Tuesday.

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