Agenda item

Homelessness Strategy 2019-2022

Minutes:

Sandra Tolley (Head of Housing Options), Jill Jones (Homelessness Manager) and Sandra Wardle (Housing Advice and Assessment Manager) gave the following powerpoint presentation:-

 

The Homelessness Reduction Act

Moves local authority approach to homelessness from less crisis intervention to more prevention ensuring more people were entitled to help.

 

Background

-          Housing Act 1996 Part 7 remains the primary legislation

-          Prior to April 2018 the principal duty was to secure accommodation for applicants who were eligible, homeless or threatened with homelessness within 28 days and who had a ‘priority need’ for housing and were homeless unintentionally

-          Homelessness Reduction Act 2017 amended the 1996 Act, introducing new statutory duties to act to prevent and relieve homelessness for all eligible applicants who were homeless or threatened with homelessness within 56 days

 

Before 3rd April, 2018

-          Single people with no clear priority need were entitled to ‘advice and assistance’ but their needs were often not assessed

-          Prevention activity was ‘good practice’ but not compulsory – crisis response at the point of homelessness was commonplace

-          The process involved an application, officers undertaking inquiries, assessing an applicant against the statutory tests and making a decision without needing to involve the applicant in finding possible solutions

 

Now

-          All eligible applicants have a full assessment of their housing and support needs

-          Local connection, intentionality and priority need were not a barrier to accessing support

-          Applicants and authorities work together to prevent or relieve homelessness

 

The Homelessness Reduction Act

The Act placed a number of new duties on local housing authorities

-          Expanded advice and information duty – available to all residents regardless of eligibility.  Advice must be designed to meet the needs of particular groups; care leavers, former members of the armed forces, people leaving custody, victims of domestic abuse, people leaving hospital and people with mental health issues

-          Prevention duty – owed to all eligible applicants threatened with homelessness in the next 56 days irrespective of ‘local connection’, ‘priority need’ or ‘intentional homelessness’.  Includes tenants served with a valid Section 21 notice (no fault eviction) which expired within 56 days

-          Relief duty – owed to people who were actually homeless and lasted for 56 days irrespective of ‘priority need’ or ‘intentional homelessness’.  The local authority may refer to another authority if the applicant had no local connection to their authority

 

Duty to Refer (from October, 2018)

This duty applied to:

-          Prisons and youth offender institutions

-          Secure training centres and secure colleges

-          Youth offending teams

-          Probation Services (including community rehabilitation companies)

-          Jobcentre Plus

-          Social Service authorities

-          Emergency departments and urgent treatment centres

-          Hospitals in their function of providing inpatient care

-          Secretary of State for defence in relation to members of the armed forces

 

Preparation for the Act

-          Structure changes

-          Allocation Policy Review

-          Personal Housing Plans developed

-          Upgraded ICT Systems

-          New Homelessness Contact Card

-          Extensive training

-          Implemented the Homelessness Code of Guidance

 

The Impact

-          Same picture nationally

-          Temporary accommodation target 32-39 currently plus hotels

-          As of 12th October 2018 case load increased from 132 in April 2018 to 354 cases

54 in intervention stage

149 prevention stage

143 (households) relief stage

8 Main Duty stage

 

Rough Sleeping

-          Official numbers were low (November, 2017 = 2)

-          The Count (30th October, 2018)

-          Reporting a rough sleeper

-          Framework 0800 0665358

 

The New Homelessness Prevention and Rough Sleeper Strategy

-          Homelessness Act 2002 (2003-2008)

-          Five yearly since

-          Currently reviewing 2014-2018

-          New Strategy 2019-2023

-          Review annually

 

Achievements

-          7 priorities – all actions met

16/17 year old protocol implemented

Sub-Regional Funding attained for Rough Sleepers

Restructure of Housing Options Service including Resettlement Officers and Tenancy Support Officers

Reviewed provision of temporary accommodation (to be increased)

 

Consultation

-          Improving Places Select Commission

-          Side by Side Homelessness Forum

-          Rotherham Show

-          Staff

 

The New Strategy

Proposed 7 key priorities

-          Supporting people with complex needs

-          Rapid housing – getting everyone housed quicker

-          Preventing and supporting young people from becoming homeless

-          Ending rough sleeping

-          Preventing homelessness to reduce the impact on health/mental health

-          Reduce the time spent in temporary accommodation

-          Sustaining tenancies

 

Timetable

-          July 2018-October 2018 – consultation period

-          November 2018 – first draft

-          January 2019 – final draft

-          February 2019 – Cabinet for approval

-          March 2019 – publish new Strategy

 

Discussion ensued with the following issues raised/clarified:-

 

-          The Code of Guidance now included in the priority group those that were terminally ill receiving palliative care

 

-          £37,500 per annum Government funding was received for rough sleepers, the same as Barnsley, Doncaster and Sheffield.  It paid for the outreach service and for a support worker who helped identify those as sleeping rough in whatever way they needed

 

-          £200,000 funding had been received for domestic abuse which had been used to set up 2 properties for those that could not access the refuge e.g. had an animal,  older children or had complex needs (alcohol/drug issues).  A further funding bid had been submitted.  The other part of the funding had been used for support that Rotherham Rise (specialist domestic abuse provider) had provided

 

-          354 referred to the number of households and could be single people, couples or families.  In Homelessness terms it was “households” units

 

-          Within Rotherham there were Mental Health Services at Swallownest Court and the Hospital.  Within the Council, the Service worked very closely with the Vulnerable Person’s Team which had 3 Mental Health Social Workers.  Joint visits were carried out whenever required

 

-          The new Strategy was to be submitted to the Select Commission in December, 2018

 

-          The Service received a daily report of those that had been identified as sleeping rough.  If allowed, their names would be taken and assistance provided

 

-          The Rough Sleeper Team was out in the town centre 2/3 times a week.  Outreach work was carried out at Shiloh, Carnson House, the Probation Service and in prisons.  If it was known that someone was out on the street a homeless assessment was carried out, Framework went out 2/3 times a week and the Tenancy Support Team would follow that up

 

-          Local businesses were one of the main reporters of those who may be rough sleeping or begging.  Officers would go out with the Police, PCSO and/or the Police’s Vulnerable Person’s Team and would also visit someone across the border

 

-          Within the Allocations Policy there was a rule that if someone had been evicted they were not eligible to join the Housing Register for 5 years.  However, individual circumstances would be considered and quite a detailed assessment undertaken to ascertain if they were intentionally homeless

 

-          Framework, who were commissioned to carry out Rotherham’s outreach work, also carried out work in Sheffield.  Their contract would expire in January, 2019

 

-          Shiloh was one of the organisations the Service worked very closely with.  Tenancy Support staff carried out outreach work with them twice a week and helped in whatever way they could

 

-          The outcomes of the assessments/personalised plans were monitored electronically and reported to Government.  It was quite new so there was no data as yet but it would collate a lot of detailed information.  A number of the questions asked were quite daunting for the people the Service was working with but it was important to give them the right support

 

-          The length of time someone would be supported varied: the aim was to prevent them from becoming homeless again

 

-          No waiting list at the moment

 

-          The Team not only supported those that were homeless but also provided support in cases where there were issues with a tenancy that may result in the tenant becoming homeless

 

-          There had been a sharp increase in cases since the implementation of the Act.  The most common reason why people accessed the Service was when they lost their assured shorthold tenancy which could be for various reasons e.g. the property being sold, tenant behaviour issues, rent arrears, relationship breakdown both violent and non-violent. 

 

-          The Service worked with Refuge and the Independent Domestic Violence Advocates as well as other partners

 

-          The outcome of the consultation would be included in the report to be submitted in December

 

-          A tender exercise was underway for 6 short lease modular buildings  

 

-          An ex-officer of the Armed Forces who was homeless would be considered under the Homeless Legislation and their particular circumstances taken into account.  If there were any other issues that needed to be taken into account the Allocation Policy would come into play.  At present if someone had been a member of the armed forces for the last 5 years they would get a high band on the Allocation Policy but if less than 5 years their medical needs would be taken into consideration

 

-          There were 20 bed spaces available for those with complex needs through Housing First.  There was currently a waiting list of 10 people

 

-          Framework had been working with the Council since 24th September.  Since then 15 rough sleepers had been found 6 of which had already been accommodated, one already had accommodation, 2 had returned to prison and the others had lost contact

 

-          The Housing Income Team had had additional resources, due to the roll out of Universal Credit, and visited the DWP to assist people submitting applications for Universal Credit.  A Universal Credit meeting had been established and met with the DWP on a monthly basis.  Those customers who found it difficult to make an application were linked with a support worker.

 

-          Before someone was released from prison, the Homeless Team would carry out an assessment.  There was also a team within the prison to assist someone prior to their release

 

-          People who attended Shiloh were not all homeless.  Shiloh aimed to help people become more independent

 

-          Data was submitted to Central Government.  The Ministry of Housing provided support and information

 

-          Tenancy Support Officer would support anyone in accessing a doctor or dentist

 

Sandra, Jill and Sandra were thanked for their informative presentation.

 

Resolved:-  That the presentation be noted.

Supporting documents: