MILLIONS of pounds in extra funding to buy housing for the homeless is set to be approved by Bournemouth council.

The cabinet is being recommended to approve £14.5 million in additional borrowing to expand its ongoing project, which has seen it buy dozens of properties over the past two years.

A report to councillors says that the extra funds would allow the council “to continue the accelerated delivery and maintain the momentum of this successful housing investment programme”.

The project started in February 2016 when the council approved £11.7m, with the aim of buying 60 properties over three years to reduce the number of people being housed in bed and breakfasts.

In September 2017, £18.5m was provided to expand the programme, including the expansion of Morrell House, the council’s emergency hostel.

Since then, the council has bought 67 properties, providing accommodation for more than 100 people with another 11 homes being considered.

Approval is now being sought for to increase borrowing by £14.5m – bringing the project’s total budget to £44.7m – to fund the purchase of up to 31 extra houses.

A report to Bournemouth council’s cabinet says: “This additional funding will enable the programme to maintain a steady pipeline of acquisitions and ensure that any suitable larger freehold acquisition opportunities are not missed.”

The housing would be provided on a short-term base with the expectation that most people will be helped to move on within one or two years.

The report adds: “It will be critical to manage tenants’ expectations around this from the start and proactive housing management is in place to help people source their own longer-term housing solutions.

“There may be a requirement for tenants to gain independent living skills accreditation to better equip them to move on.

“This will help to free the properties up for others.”

Most of the homes are managed by the council-owned company Seascape Homes and Property Limited.

Council officers are forecasting that income through rents will be slightly above the overall cost of buying the properties.

The cabinet meeting is on Tuesday at 10.30am.