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West Suffolk Council to spend almost £900,000 to resettle Afghan refugees and house local families presenting as homeless




A Suffolk authority has approved plans to spend close to £900,000 to resettle Afghan refugees and house local families presenting as homeless.

Members of West Suffolk’s cabinet unanimously approved the plans to spend £887,750 on buying up to five units of temporary accommodation to meet the needs of local families or Afghans presenting as homeless.

The money is being partly funded through the third round of the Government’s Local Authority Housing Fund (LAHF), which includes £573,175 to cover 40 per cent of the purchase price of four homes, including a minimum of one unit of temporary accommodation, by March 2026.

Cllr Richard O'Driscoll. Picture: West Suffolk Council.
Cllr Richard O'Driscoll. Picture: West Suffolk Council.

This means the council will add to its current 52 units of temporary accommodation by picking up the remaining 60 per cent of the bill, through its Investing in Growth Fund, as well as other grants.

Cllr Richard O’Driscoll, who is responsible for housing, said the money would help the district flourish.

He said: “Temporary accommodation is an important provision as it enables us to respond positively to the increasing demand for help as families and individuals find themselves facing homelessness, mainly due to the cost of living crisis.

West Suffolk House in Bury St Edmunds. Picture: Jason Noble LDRS
West Suffolk House in Bury St Edmunds. Picture: Jason Noble LDRS
Cllr O’Driscoll, who is responsible for housing, said the plans will reduce the council's need for bed and breakfast. Picture: Bury St Edmunds Labour Party
Cllr O’Driscoll, who is responsible for housing, said the plans will reduce the council's need for bed and breakfast. Picture: Bury St Edmunds Labour Party

“This makes sound economic sense as it reduces the Council’s need for bed and breakfast which is a more costly solution and also less positive for our residents.”

In total, yesterday’s approval is expected to save £139,613 in bed and breakfast costs, as well as provide a 4.31 per cent return on investment after borrowing and costs.

The investment also followed an allocation of £320,000 in August last year to help Afghan and Ukrainian families leaving temporary hotel accommodation — this is expected to produce a 16 per cent return on investment.

Potential properties have already been identified but not yet acquired.