Agenda item

(i)              Report of the Corporate Director of Regeneration and Economic Development.

(ii)             Presentation by the Core Team Manager, Regeneration and Economic Development.

The Chairman introduced the Core Team Manager, Regeneration and Economic Development Andrew Burnip, who was in attendance to give an update for Members in relation to the Homelessness Strategy (for copy see file of minutes).

Members were reminded that under the Homelessness Act 2002, there was a need for a Homelessness Strategy that must include plans for: the prevention of homelessness; ensuring sufficient supply of accommodation for those who are or may become homeless; and ensuring there is satisfactory support for those who are homeless or may become homeless and to prevent the loss of accommodation.  It was explained that this was monitored by the Homelessness Action Partnership (HAP) and refreshed annually.

The Committee learned that the Homelessness Strategy had six objectives, namely:

·       To prevent homelessness for all in housing need across County Durham

·       To ensure that services work in partnership to meet the holistic needs of all clients, including those with complex needs and/or those at risk of rough sleeping

·       To ensure that sufficient, appropriate and affordable accommodation is available for people who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless

·       To provide housing advice and housing options to those in housing need in County Durham

·       To tackle the wider social and economic causes of homelessness by supporting people to access health, employment, training and associated services

·       To achieve Gold Standard in meeting the 10 Local Authority challenge (Making Every Contact Count; A Joint Approach to Preventing Homelessness). 

The Core Team Manager explained that an Action Plan was developed with partners as regards the Strategy and that: 40 actions had been completed; 44 actions were on track or ongoing; and 12 were behind schedule.  Councillors noted that there had been a number of developments made, including the Housing Solutions Gateway, a triage system at the front-end of the process looking to deal with 70% of contacts at that point.  Members noted the development of Durham Key Options (DKO) to include the private rented sector, with the Landlord Accreditation Scheme and updated IT facilities via the DKO website.  Members noted the Single Homeless Fund and Homelessness Intervention Project (HIP) and the Durham Action on Single Housing (DASH) facility providing support for women with complex needs.  The Committee noted other developments including: the “Fair Chance Fund” supporting 18-25 year olds with complex needs; Domestic Abuse Funding; triage activities for those affected by Welfare Reform; the Holistic Temporary Accommodation and Support Service (HTASS) and Peer Education.    

Members were informed that several schemes and resources that had ended included: Street Outreach (ACE); the Mortgage Rescue Fund; Step Forward, ending in July 2015, with Stonham looking to retain 8 beds; Familywise, though there may be opportunities for future European Social Fund (ESF) bids; and Through the Gate which ended in March 2015, with the new Community Rehabilitation Company (CRC) to take that forward.  Councillors learned that there were a number of challenges moving forward, including: future MTFP savings; continuing national austerity; ongoing Welfare Reforms; slow economic growth; and increased household costs/debts. 

The Core Team Manager noted that the number of homelessness presentations to the service had reduced by approximately 15% over a six month period since the introduction of the Housing Solutions Gateway and of 761 presentations, 199 were accepted.  Councillors noted that for the period January to December 2014, there had been 1,000 preventions, with 368 being found alternative accommodation and 632 being help to stay in their own accommodation.  Members were reminded of the saving between a prevention and a presentation with an estimate by the Department for Communities and Local Government of wider savings £33 million.  It was explained that HTASS had stopped the use of bed and breakfast accommodation and that there had been a 91% reduction in the number of 16/17 year old “bed-nights” and 86% reduction in the number of family “bed-nights”.

The Committee noted that the main reasons why people had become homeless in the period January – December 2014 had been recorded as being: loss of Assured Secure Tenancy (AST); violent relationship breakdown; and non-violent relationship breakdown.  Members noted the main reasons listed for presentations included: financial hardship; being asked to leave by parents; non-violent relationship breakdown; violent relationship breakdown; Section 21 Notice (AST); and rent arrears, Housing Associations and the Local Authority.         

Members were referred to a number of prevention tools that included amongst others: Bond Scheme; Accredited Landlords; and the Remain Safe service.  It was added that future actions would include: wider promotion of the service, links to the Anti-Poverty Strategy; exploring opportunities from the Better Care Fund; increasing influence with the Health and Wellbeing Partnership.

The Chairman thanked the Core Team Manager and asked Members for their questions on the report and presentation.

Councillors asked questions in respect of: contact details as regards the Accredited Landlord Scheme; the numbers signed up to the scheme; rolling out of the scheme across the County; whether mental health issues factored into whether a person may become homeless; why Tenants would accept ASTs; where the Authority could intervene; loss of the Street Outreach Service; and linking to the Anti-Poverty Strategy.

The Core Team Manager noted contact details could be brought back to Committee or perhaps a Member Training Session could be arranged via the Organisational Development Team.  It was added that around 50-60 landlords used DKO and the majority were accredited, and Members were reminded of the pilot schemes ongoing and the roll out to the rest of the County in due course.  Councillor H Nicholson noted concern as regards not having the same service operating across the whole County from 1 April.  Councillor P Stradling added that the accreditation was a step forward; however, changes in legislation were needed to be able to effectively tackle rogue private landlords.  The Chairman added that the Accreditation Scheme was voluntary and that there needed to be benefits for Landlords joining the scheme to encourage them to want to join.

The Core Team Manager noted mental health issues did contribute to homelessness, and for single homelessness it was often that individuals had complex needs including issues, such as depression, hoarding or anxiety linked to debt.  Members were reminded of the intervention tools as set out within the report.  The Core Team Manager explained that there were varying reasons why individuals accepted ASTs, some as it provided an element of freedom to move, and some Landlords preferred them so they could easily serve a Section 21 Notice to remove Tenants.  It was added that if individuals approached the Authority early enough there were several options for the Council to negotiate and mediate on Tenants’ behalf.  Members noted that promotion of the Housing Solutions Team included: advertising on the Community Channel, as displayed in Doctors’ Surgeries; a rebranded leaflet; articles within the County Durham News; and Prevention Champion training for other relevant professionals, to highlight the benefit of early referrals.

The Core Team Manager explained that the loss of outreach workers would make it difficult in respect of identifying rough sleepers, and there was the Government “Streetlink” which allowed for information on rough sleepers to be reported and passed on to the Local Authority, though there were limitations to this approach.  The Core Team Manager noted he was meeting with the Housing Project and Service Improvement Manager, Marie Smith in relation to linking to the Anti-Poverty Strategy and issues of Welfare Reform looking to identify any gaps.

Resolved:   

That the report be noted.