‘Grave concerns’ are being raised about Devon County Council’s plans to cut funding to services that help prevent homelessness.

The council is currently consulting on plans to remove around £1.5million in funding to various hostels and other services in Devon for vulnerable adults. They include Alexandra House in Exmouth, which currently receives nearly £108,000 a year, and the ‘floating’ county-wide service delivered by Sanctuary Supported Living, which receives £711,377.00.

The leader of East Devon District Council, Paul Arnott, has written to Devon County Council’s leader John Hart to ‘share his grave concerns as a matter of urgency’. He said referrals to Alexandra House and other temporary housing providers are ‘an integral part’ of the service East Devon District Council offers people at risk of homelessness, and asks: “What solutions we will actually be able to provide for people who present to us if we are not able to refer into these projects that provide the specialist support these vulnerable people need?

He said the consultation on the cuts had been announced ‘with almost no notice, and we were shocked by its sudden appearance’. He warns that cuts to front-line homelessness support will lead to higher costs for the county council’s Adult Health and Social Care services.

He said the cuts would also be ‘inconsistent’ with the work of the Devon Housing Commission and Task Force, which has cross-party support, and recognises the need for affordable supported housing to help tackle the overall housing shortage in the county.

In his letter Cllr Arnott points out that he has never written to Cllr Hart in these terms before, and he greatly values the collegiate relationship between county and district councils. But he said: “However, in this matter I see an integral part of what this council is doing to address poverty in the district at imminent risk, and so I felt I simply must highlight these issues with you.”

Devon County Council said it is ‘committed to supporting vulnerable adults across the county and focusing on its statutory responsibilities to ensure that individual eligible social care needs are met'.

The consultation on ending its funding to the support services runs until April 19.