£500,000 empty home boost for Birmingham charity

Published by Max Salsbury for 24dash.com in Housing and also in Communities

A West Midlands young people's charity has recieved a £500,000 grant to help it bring empty flats back into use.

Birmingham YMCA was awarded the funds as part of the Government's Empty Homes Community Grant Fund. The bid for funding was backed by Birmingham City Council, which has a list of around 2000 flats across the city that have been empty for six months or more. The council's Empty Homes Team will now work with the YMCA to identify suitable properties.

The YMCA is aiming to provide 50 flats for people between 18-25 over the next two and half years as part of its empty homes scheme. The YMCA will lease the selected properties from the landlord and renovate them where necessary.

During the lease period the YMCA will be responsible for maintenance of the property.

Cllr Steve Bedser, Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing, said: “The City Council is working hard to reduce the number of properties sitting empty across the city and we’ve seen significant reductions over the past few years. But there is still more to be done and working in partnership with the YMCA, and other groups using this scheme, we’re committed to reducing the number further."

Alan Fraser, CEO of Birmingham YMCA said: “At a time when youth homelessness in our city is increasing, it is sad to see so many properties that could be housing people left empty, often because landlords can’t afford to bring them up to a suitable condition.  Our Empty Homes Scheme offers to solve that problem.  

"We can renovate the property and provide a home at an affordable rent for a local young person.  The landlord is guaranteed a regular monthly income without any of the hassle of having to find a tenant, manage a tenancy or maintain the property going forward. So the project will be beneficial for both tenants and landlords.”