Housing solutions across the area: Kirklees Council

A summary of providing affordable housing and tackling homelessness projects across the area.

Housing, planning and homelessness

07 Aug 2025

Area/s addressed	Project title	Background/what we did
Reducing placements into TA Reducing cost of TA Digital Innovation	Temporary Accommodation Placement Approval Request (2-stage approval process)	Kirklees Council experienced a significant rise in the use and cost of bed and breakfast type temporary accommodation (TA), driven by increasing homelessness presentations and limited availability of affordable housing. To ensure that TA placements were both necessary and financially sustainable, the council introduced a two-stage approval process. Utilising the councils Microsoft 365 applications, a new automated process/system was developed allowing officers to complete a request form which would go through a 2-stage approval automated flow. This system was designed to enhance oversight, promote accountability, and encourage alternative housing solutions before resorting to TA. By requiring managerial sign-off at two levels, the council aimed to reduce unnecessary placements, improve decision-making, and ultimately lower the financial burden on housing services.
PRS Solutions Supporting Homeless Households Settled Housing	Kirklees Private Rented Sector: Rapid Rehousing Plan	Kirklees Council recognised that the limited availability of social housing was contributing to prolonged stays in temporary accommodation and delaying the transition to stable housing. To address this, the council developed a Rapid Rehousing Plan focused on the private rented sector (PRS). This initiative aimed to quickly move homeless households into suitable, long-term accommodation by building strong partnerships with private landlords, offering tenancy support, and reducing barriers to access. The plan includes reference to tools and initiatives the council is currently offering such as a bond boost offer where the customers can source and secure their own accommodation before an offer is made which the council has sourced on the customers behalf. The plan was designed to provide a faster, more flexible alternative to traditional housing routes, helping to prevent repeat homelessness and improve outcomes for vulnerable residents. The plan promotes proactive effort from customers to resolve their housing needs.
Creatively resourcing our service with limited budgets Value for Money Developing teams to provide homeless services	Use of apprentices throughout the service	Facing increasing demand for homelessness services and constrained budgets, Kirklees Council sought innovative ways to strengthen its workforce and build long-term capacity. The introduction of apprenticeships across the Housing Solutions service allowed the council to invest in local talent, provide structured training opportunities, and develop a pipeline of skilled professionals. Apprentices have been integrated into various teams, gaining hands-on experience while supporting service delivery. This approach not only addressed immediate staffing needs but also promoted career development and retention, contributing to a more resilient and knowledgeable workforce. Using apprentices provides a value for money investment in staffing capacity throughout the service.
Reducing TA costs Homelessness prevention Collaboration across services Settled Housing Pathways	Management Lets Scheme Registered Provider Direct lets	To reduce the use of temporary accommodation and provide quicker access to stable housing, Kirklees Council has implemented a dual approach using both its own housing stock and partnerships with registered providers. Through the Management Lets Scheme, the council made use of voids and underutilised council-owned properties, offering them directly to homeless households as a settled housing option. This approach allows for greater control over allocations and tenancy support to those who are experiencing homelessness and temporary accommodation. In parallel, Registered Provider Direct Lets enabled the council to work closely with housing associations to secure direct placements, bypassing traditional waiting lists and accelerating move-on from temporary accommodation. Both of these schemes allows the council to not only relieve homelessness but to prevent homelessness and reduce the need for further TA placements.
Data – Driven and digital innovation Supporting Homeless Households Homeless prevention PRS solutions	Spend to Save calculator Commercial Awareness	In an environment of increasing financial pressure and demand for services, Kirklees Council recognised the need to make more strategic, cost-effective decisions in its homelessness response. The Spend to Save Calculator was developed as a practical tool to assess the long-term financial benefits of early intervention and prevention activities. By quantifying potential savings from avoiding costly temporary accommodation placements or repeat homelessness, the tool supports evidence-based decision-making. Alongside this, the council has embedded a culture of commercial awareness across its Housing Solutions service—encouraging staff to consider value for money, sustainability, and outcomes in every intervention.
PRS solutions Collaboration across services Settled Housing pathways	Collaborative Move-On Pathway	Kirklees Council developed the Collaborative Move-On Pathway to improve transitions from supported accommodation into independent living. The pathway focuses on moving individuals from supported housing into the private rented sector (PRS), providing financial assistance to help them secure and sustain tenancies. In return, the council secures exclusive referral rights to the resulting supported accommodation VOIDS. This ensures that those with care, support, or supervision needs—such as individuals leaving hospital, care, or institutional settings—can access appropriate supported housing quickly. The approach maximises the use of available housing resources, reduces bottlenecks, and supports a sustainable flow through the housing system.
Homeless Prevention Reducing cost of TA Supporting Homeless Households PRS solutions	Tenancy Rescue Scheme	Kirklees Council introduced the Tenancy Rescue Scheme to prevent homelessness by intervening early when households are at risk of losing their current PRS tenancy. The scheme provides targeted financial support—such as rent arrears payments or deposits—and practical assistance to help tenants remain in their accommodation. It is particularly focused on sustaining tenancies in the private rented sector, where households may be more vulnerable to eviction due to affordability or insecurity. By stabilising existing housing situations, the scheme reduces the need for temporary accommodation and supports long-term housing sustainability.
Supporting Homeless Households Collaboration across services Settled housing pathways PRS solutions Homelessness prevention	I-ASK partnership – Re-housing support for those leaving Home Office Accommodation with a positive decision	Year 24/25 Grant funding for asylum seekers at risk of rough sleeping, this funded 1 housing worker to provide support at a housing club, work with and procure landlords. There was also an element of the grant to provide a voucher scheme, this was to uplift “hosts” who agreed to allow a friend to stay against the cost-of-living crisis. The post was within the I-ask vol sector. As there was an underspend of the voucher element, we were able to extend the housing worker for another year 25/26 due to positive outcomes within HMOs in the Private Rented Sector. In 25/26 we were awarded a further grant award from winter funds. This has allowed a second housing support worker for the year to work alongside teams within hosing solutions. We provide an HSO to attend the hosing club weekly to ensure we are capturing all customers at risk of rough sleeping. Over the last 12 months we have jointly secured tenancies in the PR sector for 41 customers.
Homeless Prevention Reducing the cost of TA Collaboration across services Settled Housing Pathways	Hospital Discharge focused Housing Solutions Officer	This post focusses on preventing and relieving homelessness in a hospital/care setting. We receive referrals from NHS staff & Adult Social Care. This post is funded by the winter pressures fund. The officer is be expected to work primarily across four hospitals in the region. These include Huddersfield Royal Infirmary, Calderdale Royal Hospital, Pinderfields Hospital and Dewsbury District Hospital. Travel is also often expected to other out of area hospitals and care home settings where a Kirklees resident may have been placed to receive their care. We assess clients face to face and help them submit a Housing Application we then help them find a medically attempted property with the help of the Accessible Homes Team. We also liaise with NHS staff such as Doctors, nurses, Physios, Occupational Therapists, Hospital Discharge Coordinators which requires a high level of communication skills. We work towards finding the correct move on accommodation for people whilst working to get people out of hospital ASAP to help reduce the cost to the public purse.

Area/s addressed

Project title

Background/what we did

Reducing placements into TA

Reducing cost of TA

Digital Innovation

Temporary Accommodation Placement Approval Request (2-stage approval process)

Kirklees Council experienced a significant rise in the use and cost of bed and breakfast type temporary accommodation (TA), driven by increasing homelessness presentations and limited availability of affordable housing.

To ensure that TA placements were both necessary and financially sustainable, the council introduced a two-stage approval process.

Utilising the councils Microsoft 365 applications, a new automated process/system was developed allowing officers to complete a request form which would go through a 2-stage approval automated flow.

This system was designed to enhance oversight, promote accountability, and encourage alternative housing solutions before resorting to TA. By requiring managerial sign-off at two levels, the council aimed to reduce unnecessary placements, improve decision-making, and ultimately lower the financial burden on housing services.

PRS Solutions

Supporting Homeless Households

Settled Housing

Kirklees Private Rented Sector: Rapid Rehousing Plan

Kirklees Council recognised that the limited availability of social housing was contributing to prolonged stays in temporary accommodation and delaying the transition to stable housing.

To address this, the council developed a Rapid Rehousing Plan focused on the private rented sector (PRS). This initiative aimed to quickly move homeless households into suitable, long-term accommodation by building strong partnerships with private landlords, offering tenancy support, and reducing barriers to access.

The plan includes reference to tools and initiatives the council is currently offering such as a bond boost offer where the customers can source and secure their own accommodation before an offer is made which the council has sourced on the customers behalf.

The plan was designed to provide a faster, more flexible alternative to traditional housing routes, helping to prevent repeat homelessness and improve outcomes for vulnerable residents. The plan promotes proactive effort from customers to resolve their housing needs.

Creatively resourcing our service with limited budgets

Value for Money

Developing teams to provide homeless services

Use of apprentices throughout the service

Facing increasing demand for homelessness services and constrained budgets, Kirklees Council sought innovative ways to strengthen its workforce and build long-term capacity.

The introduction of apprenticeships across the Housing Solutions service allowed the council to invest in local talent, provide structured training opportunities, and develop a pipeline of skilled professionals. Apprentices have been integrated into various teams, gaining hands-on experience while supporting service delivery.

This approach not only addressed immediate staffing needs but also promoted career development and retention, contributing to a more resilient and knowledgeable workforce. Using apprentices provides a value for money investment in staffing capacity throughout the service.

Reducing TA costs

Homelessness prevention

Collaboration across services

Settled Housing Pathways

Management Lets Scheme

Registered Provider Direct lets

To reduce the use of temporary accommodation and provide quicker access to stable housing, Kirklees Council has implemented a dual approach using both its own housing stock and partnerships with registered providers.

Through the Management Lets Scheme, the council made use of voids and underutilised council-owned properties, offering them directly to homeless households as a settled housing option. This approach allows for greater control over allocations and tenancy support to those who are experiencing homelessness and temporary accommodation.

In parallel, Registered Provider Direct Lets enabled the council to work closely with housing associations to secure direct placements, bypassing traditional waiting lists and accelerating move-on from temporary accommodation.

Both of these schemes allows the council to not only relieve homelessness but to prevent homelessness and reduce the need for further TA placements.

Data – Driven and digital innovation

Supporting Homeless Households

Homeless prevention

PRS solutions

Spend to Save calculator

Commercial Awareness

In an environment of increasing financial pressure and demand for services, Kirklees Council recognised the need to make more strategic, cost-effective decisions in its homelessness response.

The Spend to Save Calculator was developed as a practical tool to assess the long-term financial benefits of early intervention and prevention activities. By quantifying potential savings from avoiding costly temporary accommodation placements or repeat homelessness, the tool supports evidence-based decision-making.

Alongside this, the council has embedded a culture of commercial awareness across its Housing Solutions service—encouraging staff to consider value for money, sustainability, and outcomes in every intervention.

PRS solutions

Collaboration across services

Settled Housing pathways

Collaborative Move-On Pathway

Kirklees Council developed the Collaborative Move-On Pathway to improve transitions from supported accommodation into independent living.

The pathway focuses on moving individuals from supported housing into the private rented sector (PRS), providing financial assistance to help them secure and sustain tenancies. In return, the council secures exclusive referral rights to the resulting supported accommodation VOIDS. This ensures that those with care, support, or supervision needs—such as individuals leaving hospital, care, or institutional settings—can access appropriate supported housing quickly.

The approach maximises the use of available housing resources, reduces bottlenecks, and supports a sustainable flow through the housing system.

Homeless Prevention

Reducing cost of TA

Supporting Homeless Households

PRS solutions

Tenancy Rescue Scheme

Kirklees Council introduced the Tenancy Rescue Scheme to prevent homelessness by intervening early when households are at risk of losing their current PRS tenancy.

The scheme provides targeted financial support—such as rent arrears payments or deposits—and practical assistance to help tenants remain in their accommodation. It is particularly focused on sustaining tenancies in the private rented sector, where households may be more vulnerable to eviction due to affordability or insecurity.

By stabilising existing housing situations, the scheme reduces the need for temporary accommodation and supports long-term housing sustainability.

Supporting Homeless Households

Collaboration across services

Settled housing pathways

PRS solutions

Homelessness prevention

I-ASK partnership – Re-housing support for those leaving Home Office Accommodation with a positive decision

Year 24/25 Grant funding for asylum seekers at risk of rough sleeping, this funded 1 housing worker to provide support at a housing club, work with and procure landlords. There was also an element of the grant to provide a voucher scheme, this was to uplift “hosts” who agreed to allow a friend to stay against the cost-of-living crisis. The post was within the I-ask vol sector.

As there was an underspend of the voucher element, we were able to extend the housing worker for another year 25/26 due to positive outcomes within HMOs in the Private Rented Sector.

In 25/26 we were awarded a further grant award from winter funds. This has allowed a second housing support worker for the year to work alongside teams within hosing solutions.

We provide an HSO to attend the hosing club weekly to ensure we are capturing all customers at risk of rough sleeping.

Over the last 12 months we have jointly secured tenancies in the PR sector for 41 customers.

Homeless Prevention

Reducing the cost of TA

Collaboration across services

Settled Housing Pathways

Hospital Discharge focused Housing Solutions Officer

This post focusses on preventing and relieving homelessness in a hospital/care setting. We receive referrals from NHS staff & Adult Social Care.

This post is funded by the winter pressures fund.

The officer is be expected to work primarily across four hospitals in the region. These include Huddersfield Royal Infirmary, Calderdale Royal Hospital, Pinderfields Hospital and Dewsbury District Hospital. Travel is also often expected to other out of area hospitals and care home settings where a Kirklees resident may have been placed to receive their care.

We assess clients face to face and help them submit a Housing Application we then help them find a medically attempted property with the help of the Accessible Homes Team. We also liaise with NHS staff such as Doctors, nurses, Physios, Occupational Therapists, Hospital Discharge Coordinators which requires a high level of communication skills. We work towards finding the correct move on accommodation for people whilst working to get people out of hospital ASAP to help reduce the cost to the public purse.