Our three-year Strategic Housing investment programme aims to reduce homelessness, cut use of expensive and unsuitable temporary accommodation for families, and help young people and care leavers take their next, safe steps towards independence.

The investment programme, set to be approved in late April 2026, will be highly targeted, and used flexibly - responding to immediate housing pressures, while delivering ongoing long term benefits in areas such as bringing empty homes back into use.

Herefordshire Council Cabinet Member for Economy and Growth Cllr Graham Biggs said:

“There’s a recognised national shortage of suitable housing for some of the people who need it most – and we’re committed to investing to tackle the issue. Young people leaving care deserve the same opportunities in life as others, and that often starts with having a safe, stable and comfortable place to live. We owe it to them, to families facing very difficult situations, and to people who find themselves homeless, which can include veterans who have given so much for the country, to have the opportunity to live in suitable homes, in their own communities. 

“This investment is another step towards improving the situation. More safe, suitable local housing creates alternatives to hotels and B&Bs, which are expensive and often unsuitable for families, and means more young people who need our support the most can start living more independently in safe, good quality accommodation. This investment can also make significant savings by reducing the use of B&Bs and hotels, and long term supported placements, delivering value for the taxpayer, and targeting support effectively for immediate and long-term impact.”

Key features of the Strategic Housing Three-year Capital Programme, which covers the April 2026 - April 2029 period, include:

Increasing short term / temporary accommodation provision and tackling homelessness.
Some £2.25 million will help develop more suitable cost effective, council-managed short-term accommodation for large families and people with complex needs. It will also support longer-term affordable homes for larger families. Some families have spent extended periods in unsuitable or out of area accommodation because of a lack of appropriate local options. 

The programme will also support the county’s new Homelessness Prevention strategy by increasing the range and availability of short-term accommodation options. 

Demand for temporary accommodation in Herefordshire has risen steadily in recent years, driven 
by high private rents, limited social housing and the cost of living crisis. The number of households in temporary accommodation has almost doubled since 2023, with the council providing temporary housing for 326 households during 2024/25 alone. 

Bringing Empty Homes back into use as affordable housing
Another major strand will enable more empty properties to be turned into much needed affordable rented accommodation. An Empty Properties Grant Scheme will offer owners grants of up to £50,000 to renovate long-term vacant properties on condition they make them available at affordable rents. This will add to overall housing numbers, help move households out of temporary accommodation, and reduce reliance on hotels and emergency housing. 

New housing for Care Leavers and homeless young people 
A key part of the programme focuses on homeless young people, and Care Leavers who are ready to move on from supported accommodation. New transitional housing will provide a vital stepping stone to full independence, through safe, stable homes where young people can develop skills and confidence to manage their own tenancies in future. The programme aims to fund four dedicated properties, providing homes for a minimum of eight young people.