The Local Government Association is launching the sixth year of the Housing Advisers Programme, an innovative scheme to help councils overcome housing challenges in their local areas.
The funding programme, which opens for bids today, funds the provision of independent expertise for councils undertaking specific projects to tackle the effects of the housing crisis in local communities – including on housing delivery, planning for homes, and reducing homelessness.
In the previous five years of the programme, the LGA has supported more than 150 projects across England, helping councils build homes, reduce homelessness and rough sleeping, plan for ageing populations, understand the student housing market, increase supply of modular housing and more.
In 2022/23 the funding programme will award up to £20,000 to each project for the purpose of securing expert advice in transforming how a service or partnership meets the housing needs of communities.
This year, for the first time, there will be a second strand to the Housing Advisers Programme, aimed at councils who want to play a more direct role in building more homes in their local area but have minimal or no experience of doing so. This will be an action learning programme, giving participants the opportunity to explore which of the different routes to housing delivery will work best in their local area.
The best practice and lessons learned from each project will be shared with councils and embedded into the sector support programme, which is delivered by the LGA.
Cllr David Renard, LGA Housing spokesperson, said:
“Councils can play a key role in supporting growth from the bottom-up by building new homes and tackling our housing shortage.
“The Housing Advisers Programme been a striking success since it was launched six years ago, helping councils deliver local priorities by tapping into the expert advice they need to innovate and improve the delivery of homes, tackle the root causes of homelessness and deliver efficient and locally led place-making.
“We would recommend all councils take a look at the programme as there are ways it can bring benefits to every local area across England”
To find out more, visit www.local.gov.uk/housingadvisersprogramme or email [email protected]
Notes to editors
The sector support programme delivered by LGA is funded by DLUHC