The council’s health and social care overview and scrutiny committee (HOSC) recommended that Herefordshire Council’s Cabinet should re-consider their decision to change their contract with the Supported Housing for Young People Project (SHYPP), a local organisation which provides support and housing to young people facing homelessness.

In March, the Ross Gazette reported that while SHYPP’s accommodation-based services would continue, their floating support service would be decommissioned, as they would receive less funding from the County Council.

But on Tuesday, April 5th, HOSC recommended that the SHYPP decision be referred back to Cabinet to be reconsidered in light of a SHYPP counter proposal, which the Cabinet did not have access to prior to taking its decision on March 17th.

The SHYPP contract will now be considered when Cabinet meets on Thursday, April 14th, and a new decision will be taken.

SHYPP has gained a great deal of support; a petition against the proposed cuts was presented to Councillor Patricia Morgan. The petition had 2471 signatures.

In Ross-on-Wye, the young residents at SHYPP put in a great deal of work to organise the pancake races, along with the young person workers, and Ross Town Councillor, Hannah Lerego. The pancake races were enjoyed by many local residents, and a lot of support was gained for the Herefordshire organisation.