Worthing is bidding for a share of £10 million Government cash to help tackle homelessness.

The borough council is expected to approve plans to apply for £5,200 to expand its temporary housing association scheme when its executive committee meets on Thursday.

The money will be used to promote a link-up between the council and a housing association, providing temporary homes for people who would otherwise end up in bed and breakfasts.

The homelessness problem has grown dramatically in the town in the past five years.

There are now 190 families in temporary accommodation, 22 in bed and breakfast homes.

Housing research and planning officer Pat Taylor said: "The cost of bed and breakfast is high.

"An alternative is to encourage private sector landlords to lease their properties to housing associations who lease to homeless people."

Sanctuary Housing Association leases 30 properties as temporary accommodation for families.

The council wants to expand this scheme, adding another 10 homes.

The council has to pay £10 a property a week on top of housing benefit to make the scheme work.

The council dealt with 689 homeless applications in 2000 but in 2001 and 2002 this dropped to 434 because of preventative measures.