The commissioning of a new contract to provide supported accommodation for homeless women has been approved by Sheffield councillors.

It comes in response to the impending end of the current contract with the Salvation Army in September 2025, which, if not renewed, could have left vulnerable women without critical support.

Suzanne Allen, Head of Citywide Housing Services, told a meeting of the council’s Housing Policy Committee: “We do need a continuation of that service in the city.”

She acknowledged the challenges in finding service providers who were willing to support the vulnerable group.

“It’s a very challenging situation financially,” she added, stressing the importance of managing expectations around available funding.

Ms Allen further clarified that the commissioning is focused on costs not covered by government grants that cannot be met by other services. Although the city provides some services for women over 25, this initiative will be highly specialised and be for women under this age.

The new service will have a maximum annual budget of £250,000 for five years, an increase from the current £204,000 annual contract value. The service is set to provide accommodation and support for up to 12 months, compared to the current six to nine months, with both site-based accommodation and dispersed housing models being considered.

Council members also discussed the service’s design and size.

Cllr Penny Baker highlighted that 25 women had used the service over the last year, raising questions about whether the new service should be larger or smaller.

Cllr Paul Turpin questioned whether the £250,000 would cover just the professional support or if it also includes bed and board, and voiced concerns about age restrictions, asking, “Why 25? And what happens to women in that position who are over 25?”

Ms Allen addressed the concern by reiterating that there was not a “one-size-fits-all” solution for homeless women and stressed the flexibility of the proposed service. She also noted that the procurement process was currently on hold pending new government legislation that would introduce requirements for needs assessments and local plans for supported housing.

She added the council was ensuring that its approach aligned with these new expectations.

The proposal for the new contract was supported by Cllr Douglas Johnson, who called it a “vitally needed service,” and the commissioning plan was ultimately approved. The procurement process is expected to begin in April 2025, with the new service set to begin in October 2025.

The council says this new initiative is part of Sheffield’s broader effort to address homelessness and support vulnerable women in the community, with a focus on long-term stability and holistic care.