More than a dozen extra homes across Bolton will be leased to support people facing homelessness.

This comes after a report last week revealed that as many as 50 families are being put up in chain hotels around the borough at any one time, costing up to £100 each a night.

In response, Bolton Council has now agreed to take on leases for an extra 13 properties on a long-term basis to help people at risk of becoming homeless.

Council cabinet member for regulatory services and property Cllr Sue Haworth said: “The cost-of-living crisis has put household budgets under serious pressure at a time when rent and house prices continue to rise.

“Like places across the country, the Bolton borough is seeing a major increase in demand on homelessness support services.

Bolton Council has agreed to lease extra homesBolton Council has agreed to lease extra homes (Image: Newsquest)

“This decision will help ease some of that pressure, reduce our dependence on hotels and other costly placements, and ensure more people can be temporarily accommodated in a home that’s right for them.”

The 50 families staying in chain hotels are amongst around 250 who are estimated to be in temporary accommodation around Bolton at any one time.

The council has a legal responsibility to provide temporary accommodation to people I need under the terms of the housing act.

To help meet this, it has a long-standing arrangement with various housing associations around Bolton.

They have set side several properties on long term leases to provide temporary accommodation as and when needed.

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The report put before Cllr Haworth laid out the costs of alternative ways to house people.

It said that last year the borough is estimated to have spent a total of around £1.14M on alternative accommodation in hotels and with other private providers.

While housing families in hotels costs up to £100 a night, using a social housing provider will only cost around £98 a week.

To help meet the rising pressures of homelessness, the council agreed last week to renew 35 leases that were about to run out with Bolton at Home, the borough’s biggest housing provider.

It will also lease an extra 13 properties on terms agreed with Bolton at Home.