HC Deb 20 December 1990 vol 183 c264W
Mrs. Golding

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will list the numbers of housing associations, voluntary organisations and other projects which exist to provide accommodation for(a) the single homeless, (b) the mentally ill and (c) those leaving penal institutions or ex-offenders;

(2) if he will give details of the additional funding he has secured to further develop voluntary after-care accommodation provided by housing associations;

(3) what topping-up funding is available to voluntary organisations and housing associations providing special needs accommodation in 1991–92 to the homeless.

Mr. Yeo

Accommodation for people with special needs is to be provided under a number of Government initiatives in 1991–92 including3,000 bedspaces funded through the Housing Corporation's approved development programme. 60 short-term bedspaces in the Department of Health's homeless mentally ill programme. An allocation by the Home Office of £9,179,000 to the voluntary after-care grant scheme. Further funding by the Department of Social Security of the Resettlement Agency's scheme for replacing resettlement units and the funding of a number of short-term direct access hostels in London for people sleeping rough.

Topping up is provided from a variety of sources, particularly local authorities and health and social services authorities. In addition, the Department of Health will be funding the running costs of the 60 bedspaces referred to above and the Home Office will be providing topping up funds direct to about 130 organisations.

We do not hold an up-to-date or comprehensive list of projects providing accommodation for people with special needs. But I have arranged for the Housing Corporation to write to the hon. Member to see if they can assist her from the information they hold on schemes run by registered housing associations.