Decision status: Recommendations Approved
Is Key decision?: No
Is subject to call in?: No
The Corporate Manager – Homeless Prevention and Older Persons gave a detailed presentation on the work undertaken by the Team dealing with the homeless issue. She clarified the legal statutes that the Council had to work within and the timescale for dealing with an application for homelessness.
She advised the Committee that the major concern was the proposed introduction of the Homelessness Reduction Act in April 2018 which was likely to increase the workload significantly. Although the Council would not have to provide accommodation for all those claiming homelessness it would have to draw up a meaningful action plan to mitigate the situation. Following a set period of time if the situation was not resolved then the person(s) would be deemed homeless and the Council would be expected to find them accommodation. The benefit cap and introduction of Universal Credit, which was to be rolled out to single person claimants in Mid Suffolk next year, was expected to result in a major increase in those unable to pay their rent and it was expected that other services, eg police, probation, GPs, would refer people who were expecting top become homeless. There would be further adverse impact from the local housing allowance rates being frozen and the effect on people accessing the private rented sector.
The team was actively working to minimise the effects of the introduction of the Act in various ways including looking at ways to increase the private sector rental offer; trying to increase the temporary accommodation offer; and introduction of a scheme where a single person could rent a room in a house, with the tenant matched to the landlord, and with the rent assessed to ensure it was tax free.
A joint bid with SCC had resulted in funding that was being used to employ an Officer who worked with rough sleepers to try and help and also to prevent the situation occurring. The Council had an obligation to provide shelter to those sleeping rough in bad weather.
A joint funding bid for monies to help those suffering from domestic abuse had allowed three dwellings to be purchased which would provide a safe place and also intensive support.
She tabled homeless statistics for the years 2014/15, 2015/16 and 2016/17 together with details of the numbers of families placed in bed and breakfast accommodation and the costs, and cases where homelessness was prevented by appropriate intervention. In respect of the use of bed and breakfast accommodation it was noted that overall the figures for the last three years had gone down and that the Mid Suffolk figures were much lower than the national average. It was noted that bed and breakfast accommodation was only used as a last resort.
Concern was expressed regarding the team’s ability to cope with the introduction of the Homelessness Reduction Act. The Officer advised that a business case was being prepared to increase the team by 4.5 full time equivalent posts. The team was also currently undertaking additional work which could actually be done elsewhere in the organisation which would free up more time to work on homelessness prevention.
Members discussed the information provided and questioned Officers on various aspects including:
· How more short term accommodation could be procured eg hostel – A number of temporary accommodations were available. A balance had to be achieved between providing sufficient accommodation and costs eg hostel accommodation might not be filled permanently against bed and breakfast which was only paid for when necessary
· Location of bed and breakfast accommodation – None was available in Mid Suffolk. Ipswich accommodation was used when necessary.
· Number of beds available in temporary accommodation – Sufficient to accommodate thirteen households
· Duration of stay in temporary accommodation – Time varied but there was an impact on VOID performance if empty council properties were used
· Expected increase in homeless cases following introduction of the Bill – Currently all those contacting the Council for assistance were not recorded, the only data was for those found homeless. From April when a case would have to be opened for all contacts it was expected to be approximately 300 per year.
The Committee discussed the information provided and agreed that it was confident that the work being undertaken to reduce the use of bed and breakfast accommodation was good and no review was necessary and this would be reported to the Cabinet.
It was felt that a more worthwhile piece of work would be to pre-scrutinise the steps being taken to prepare for the introduction of the Homelessness Reduction Act. It was proposed a review be undertaken in November and that other organisations who worked with Mid Suffolk residents, eg Citizens’ Advice Bureau, should also be brought in to gain their views.
RESOLUTION
That a review of the work being undertaken in preparation for the implementation of the Homelessness Reduction Act be brought to the 16 November meeting
Publication date: 19/12/2019
Date of decision: 20/07/2017
Decided at meeting: 20/07/2017 - Mid Suffolk Overview and Scrutiny Committee
Accompanying Documents: