BOURNEMOUTH, Christchurch and Poole Council spent millions of pounds on housing homeless people in bed and breakfasts and hostels last year, new figures show.

Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities figures shows Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council spent a total of £5.9 million on temporary homeless housing in the year to March, down from £7.4 million the year before.

Bed and breakfasts accounted for a significant amount of spending with £4.1 million paid – 70 per cent of the total expenditure for temporary accommodation last year.

And about £262,000 (four per cent) went towards hostels which includes refuges and emergency accommodation.

Last year's spending is higher than the amount spent five years ago when £2.4 million was put towards temporary homeless accommodation in the area – equating to a real-terms increase of 115 per cent.

A BCP Council spokesperson said: “During the coronavirus pandemic the overall use of temporary accommodation increased as hotels and bed & breakfast accommodation was widely utilised to house rough sleepers and those who had nowhere safe to stay during that period.

"The council’s ongoing commitment to ensure people have not returned to the street after the pandemic, has meant people have spent longer in temporary accommodation before securing a settled home.

“The expenditure on temporary accommodation is reflective of the time it has taken to ensure people are able to move-on successfully to a home that meets their needs.

"The overwhelming majority of people allocated temporary shelter were housed in the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole region. This affects all household types, families and single people.

“The regional housing market is a challenging one in which to provide long-lasting affordable housing solutions. We are working hard with local supported housing providers, private landlords and housing associations to deliver permanent and long-term homes, thus reducing our dependency on expensive temporary accommodation.

"The Council Newbuild Housing and Acquisition Strategy (CNHAS), is also vital in delivering direct housing at pace and at scale with over 100 additional homes in the pipeline to be provided over the next six months.

“The many organisations that make up the BCP Homelessness Partnership have a range of services. These help local households stay in their homes when threatened with homelessness and also those in temporary accommodation to successfully move on to homes that better meet their needs.”

A Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities spokesperson said it is providing councils with £316 million this year to prevent homelessness.

They added: “Temporary accommodation is a last resort, but a vital lifeline for those at risk of sleeping rough.

“We know people are concerned about rising costs, which is why have announced the Energy Price Guarantee, to support household with their energy bills over the winter, and a further £37 billion of support for those struggling with the cost of living.”