Cardiff City Council is at risk of receiving less funding from the UK government for people who are struggling to pay rent, according to a housing charity.
Shelter Cymru say if the council doesn’t spend the full amount allocated for Discretionary Housing Payments (DHP) by the end of March, they may receive less next year.
A Freedom of Information request made by Shelter Cymru shows Cardiff Council have £322,895.90 left to spend of their £1,033,073 budget before March 31st 2017.
DHPs are used to help people whose housing benefit doesn’t cover the full cost of their rent. Every year Cardiff City Council receives funding for DHPs from the UK government, which they are then responsible for distributing among those eligible. But if they don’t spend the full budget, the UK government takes it back and less is given the following year.
John Puzey, the Director of Shelter Cymru, says “most councils understand how important this help is for people. But this makes it all the more shocking that a handful are still under spending, potentially turning down applications from people who may become homeless as a result. This will only end up costing councils’ homelessness services more in the long run.”
Cardiff City Council have been contacted for comment.
