A GRANT of more than £7million was used to address housing issues in Denbighshire in the last 12 months.

Denbighshire County Council confirmed, following a freedom of information request made by the Journal, that it received a total of £7,356,535.02 from Welsh Government’s Housing Support Grant in the 2023-24 period.

It was also asked in the request to provide a breakdown of how much, and how, this money was spent.

READ MORE:

Rhyl woman in 'damp' homeless accommodation ‘at a desperate point’

How charity which opened Rhyl shop aims to help those in North Wales

Rhyl single mum feels ‘like a burden on my kids’ amid homelessness

REACTION: Rhyl homeless accommodation plans scrapped by council

The council said it has spent this grant money in its entirety, including more than £1.5m on temporary supported accommodation and in excess of £3m on “floating support”.

Denbighshire County Council spent its Housing Support Grant for 2023-24 in the following areas:

  • Private rented sector access schemes – £212,548.00
  • Rapid rehousing/housing-led services - £207,973.00
  • Emergency accommodation provision - £835,610.02
  • Enforcement, investigation or compliance with housing legislation - £7,412.00
  • Activities designed to promote and publicise compliance with housing legislation - £1,000.00
  • Floating support - £3,189,516.00
  • Temporary supported accommodation - £1,605,325.00
  • Refuges - £350,453.00
  • Non-statutory Housing Support Grant-funded posts - £364,612.00
  • Other homelessness prevention projects - £435,303.00
  • Other - £146,783.00

The council added that it spent none of this money on rough sleeper assertive outreach services, mediation services, daytime drop-in services, permanent supported accommodation, extra care services, alarm services, and target hardening.

As of 2023, there were more than 300 Denbighshire households in emergency or temporary accommodation.

Launched in 2020, the Housing Support Grant is Welsh Government’s primary funding stream for preventing homelessness and supporting independent living in the country.

It can support residents who are aged 16 or older.