Agenda item

Report of Director of Service Delivery.

Cabinet lead member:  Councillor Alan Shuttleworth.

(1) Findings of the homelessness review completed in 2016 noted.

(2) Director of Service Delivery, in consultation with the lead cabinet member for direct assistance services, granted delegated authority to approve amendments to the strategy, subject to final consultation.

28.1 The Homelessness Act 2002 placed a legal requirement on local authorities to publish a homelessness strategy setting out its plans for preventing and responding to homelessness.  Cabinet considered the report of the director of service delivery reporting that there had been significant changes in national welfare and housing policy and in the local market since the council’s current 2013/20 strategy had been agreed.   Levels and risks of homelessness had increased significantly. 

28.2 In light of these changes, the council has carried out a homelessness review.  A copy of the review was appended to the report.  Key findings included:-.

·         There had been a significant increase in the number of households presenting as homelessness between 2014 and 2015, with a particular increase in the number of women with children becoming homeless.

·         The main reason applicants to the council gave for the loss of their last home was the termination of their tenancy in the private rented sector.

·         The majority of private market housing for rent was unaffordable to people on average household incomes in Eastbourne.  The need to prevent homelessness amongst those currently housed was paramount given the problems of accessible affordable housing in the private market.

·         There had been a sharp increase in the number of households becoming homeless as a result of relationship breakdown.

·         The main ‘priority needs’ of homeless households were the presence of children or a pregnant woman in the household and, in the case of single person households, vulnerability arising from poor mental health.

·         There had been a decrease in the level of homelessness prevented through conciliation and mediation services and the reasons for this decrease needed to be explored.

·         There had been an increase in domestic abuse incidents being reported and the number of households becoming homeless as a result of violent relationship breakdown.

·         There had been a fall in the number of homeless households accommodated in the private rented sector between 2014 and 2015.  This presented particular challenges given the acute difficulties faced by people on modest incomes securing housing in the private market.

·         Work with rough sleepers undertaken as part of the SHORE project had been effective, however, the government had confirmed that this funding would end in September 2016.

·         The supply of very low cost accommodation for people with a history of homelessness and/or rough sleeping was extremely limited and reducing further.

·         There were significant pressures on temporary accommodation and the costs of bed and breakfast and other accommodation paid for on a nightly basis were very high and set to increase.

·         Supported housing schemes were at significant risk of becoming blocked by a lack of affordable housing which their tenants could move on to when ready.  These problems were particularly acute for young people.  At the same time, potential reductions in local funding for support services and the proposed restrictions to the local housing allowance posed major risks to providers of supported housing.

28.3 In the light of these findings a homelessness strategy had been developed (draft copy appended to the report) in discussion with the town’s Housing Forum with the aim of providing a comprehensive homelessness service and improved access to housing.  The key areas for action to prevent homelessness were to:-

·         Identify trends and risks to ensure the council and its partners address any emerging issues quickly.

·         Ensure people at risk of homelessness had access to the housing, legal, debt and money advice services they needed and to any financial assistance for which they were eligible, and to liaise with the DWP to minimise any risks arising from changes to the way welfare benefits were assessed and managed.

·         Raise awareness of the risks of homelessness and to continue working with authorities in East Sussex to minimise the number of young people becoming homeless.

·         Work with East Sussex district and borough authorities to secure housing and support services to deliver government commitments for Syrian refugees.

·         Provide appropriate services, housing and support for a range of people with specific needs, including those at risk of homelessness as a result of domestic abuse, with health, care and support needs, and those needing to be re-housed from hospital and from supported housing schemes.

·         Continue working to achieve ‘no second night out’ for rough sleepers and improved services to street homeless people.

28.4 Actions to increase access to housing included:-

·         The development and adoption of relevant planning policies and identifying opportunities for the acquisition and/or development of affordable and market housing.

·         Liaison with private landlords to increase access to rented housing for those at risk of homelessness or living in temporary accommodation.

·         A review of options for housing homeless households in emergencies and temporarily until they can secure a tenancy, and for reducing the time which people spend in temporary accommodation, and

·         work with neighbouring Councils to address problems accessing good quality temporary accommodation and to minimise the need to place homeless households out of area.

28.5 It was proposed that the consultation draft of this strategy was forwarded to individual members of the Housing Forum and other service and accommodation providers working with homeless households, as well as statutory authorities and representative partnerships in Eastbourne.  The strategy would also be published on the council’s website for comment and feedback from residents.

28.6 Resolved (key decision): (1) That the findings of the homelessness review completed in 2016 be noted.

(2) That the director of service delivery, in consultation with the lead cabinet member for direct assistance services, be granted delegated authority to approve amendments to the strategy, subject to final consultation.