Agenda item

PRE-DECISION SCRUTINY OF A CABINET REPORT - PREVENTION OF HOMELESSNESS & ROUGH SLEEPING STRATEGY 2020 - 2025

Report and appendices attached.

Minutes:

The Cabinet Member addressed the Board and advised that he planned to build on the ambition to end long term rough sleeping in the borough by 2022. There was also a wish to reduce the numbers of people living in temporary accommodation and to develop ways to support people who did become homeless. The strategy also sought to provide good value, integrated services that deliver excellent customer care.

 

An integrated outreach team would be provided to assist rough sleepers. This would provide a safe environment, healthcare and pathway management to rough sleepers. Work would also be undertaken to improve the hospital discharge process and to develop a homelessness charter for local businesses. A new, high quality family welcome and assessment centre would be opened for the homeless under the strategy.

 

The strategy would be funded principally via grant funding and officers accepted that there would be severe financial implications for the Council if this funding was not to be continued by central government. Officers also confirmed that a great deal of work had been undertaken to establish if homeless people had local connections with Havering. Work would also be undertaken with  homeless person’s ‘home’ borough and Members agreed it was important that there was a clear policy to deal with this situation.

 

A total of 12 people had been identified in March as rough sleeping in Havering and a total of 35 homeless had been accommodated, at the start of lockdown, in a hotel in Ilford. All but three of these had now been found accommodation. Homeless accommodation provided during the Covid-19 period had been paid for by the Government but this cost was normally covered via the benefits system. Benefits claims were still able to be submitted, even if a person did not have a permanent address. Staff sought to engage with the homeless and offer care and support but it often took time to build a relationship.

 

The level of budget available for this work depended on Government funding although officers felt that there was only a minimal risk to funding for this work as it was a Government priority. Staffing levels were an issue risk for all Councils although efforts were ongoing to build the homelessness team including using apprenticeships, training etc. There were currently sufficient staff numbers in place to implement the strategy. Any evictions that would restart were likely to be for anti-social behaviour rather than rent arrears. The eviction notice period had also been extended for six months.

 

It was confirmed that the service now had powers to use prevention measures to stop people becoming homeless. Work was therefore pit in place with clients before an eviction may have taken place. An action plan would be developed with a client to try to prevent homelessness. Similar work was also undertaken with organisations representing ex-service personnel who were given priority for housing allocation schemes.

 

It was clarified that the Council did not have a statutory duty to support groups such as ‘couch surfers’ but would advice and support would be provided. Members also felt it was important that the Equalities Impact Assessment for the proposals was fully considered.

 

The Board AGREED unanimously that the following comments be passed back to the Cabinet Member as part of its pre-decision scrutiny of this item:

 

-       To flag the risk to the strategy if Central Government funding was not to be continued.

-       The need for a clear policy for homeless people in Havering who come from other boroughs.

-       The importance of having sufficient staff capacity to ensure the successful operation of the strategy.

-       That the Equalities Impact Assessment of the strategy  be fully taken into account

 

 

 

 

 

 

Supporting documents: