Eastbourne Borough Council has warned that rising costs of homelessness services have left it facing ‘extensive’ cuts to services.
The local authority said spiralling levels of homelessness and the £4.5m annual cost of temporary accommodation – equal to 49p in every £1 collected in council tax – meant it was at risk of being unable to set a balanced budget.
Eastbourne has led a year-long national campaign lobbying the government on the homelessness crisis, including a letter to Westminster from a cross-party group of more than 0 council leaders.
Council leader Stephen Holt said: ‘Over the last 12 months I have repeatedly warned that the increasing costs we are shouldering are wholly unsustainable.
‘Regrettably, the colossal financial pressure and a lack of sufficient government support over many years means the council is forced to make significant cuts to services, otherwise the authority will not be able to set a balanced budget.’
