Agenda item

The Director of Housing submits a report to update the Commission on homelessness in the City and progress in relation to the Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy which was last shared with the Commission September 2023.

The Chair noted that the report covers aspects that will be the focus for further discussed as part of the task group inquiry day and therefore enables an introductory discussion on the matter.

The report was presented by the Heads of Service in which it was noted that:

·       It is an extremely challenging time with rising levels of homelessness seen locally and nationally. The Council declared a housing crisis in November 2022 due to the lack of affordable homes in the city which impacts homelessness as well as other factors such as the cost-of-living crisis.

·       The report sets out data and financial pressures on the service. An addition £1m funding was allocated in 2023/24 and further £10m for 2024/25 to help with the additional demand but consequently puts greater pressure on balancing the budget.

·       The number of households approaching services due to risk of becoming homeless is at unprecedented levels with an 11% increase from 2022/23 to 2023/24, equating to around an extra 500 contacts. This is often a result of being asked to leave private rented sector accommodation or family homes. The fast-track national asylum support service is also impacting homelessness services where individuals are granted the right to remain and required to leave Home Office accommodation.

·       Pressures on homelessness services has resulted in increased numbers of individuals and families in temporary accommodation. This includes 520 families, of which 262 were in bed and breakfast or hotel accommodation, and many exceeding six weeks as well as 552 individuals. Hotel or bed and breakfast accommodation is seen as a last resort option as it is acknowledged not to be ideal but increasing demand sometimes requires this provision. Full Council approved £45m funding to purchase 224 properties to alleviate pressures in temporary accommodation.

·       Partnership working is ongoing with a range of agencies working internally and externally to provide a multi-agency approach to services to support individuals and families at risk of homelessness and/or when homeless.

·       A homelessness and rough sleeping action plan was produced in conjunction with partners and published in December 2023. It is an agile action plan to respond to emerging issues with four main areas, including prevention, intervention, recovery and partnership working. The aim is to work collectively to enhance service provision to prevent rough sleeping and homelessness.

Members noted the difficulties and pressures services are enduring and thanked officers for their ongoing work and report. In response to questions and comments from Members, it was noted that:

·       Leicester’s Homelessness Charter is working to bring organisations and individuals together to address homelessness in the city. Successful events have been hosted to inform officers and share resources on how service users can navigate available services. Coffee mornings are also hosted at John Lewis to share information and resources.

·       Communication is a priority within the action plan for the first year to support the delivery of the homelessness and rough sleeper strategy. It is intended to improve communication to ensure service users know how to access services and share information with partners by working with the Homelessness Charter.

·       Following the implementation of the streamlined asylum process, around 670 households received a discontinuation notice and sought services from the Council until April 2024. A further 109 households, equating to around 8 cases per week, have sought services since May 2024. The Deputy City Mayor for Housing and Neighbourhoods along with the Deputy City Mayor for Social Care, Health and Community Safety continue to engage with the Home Office and seek settlement funding, particularly due to the disparity in schemes.

·       Full Council approved £45m funding to acquire additional properties to improve pathways for more suitable accommodation for households facing homelessness and prevent use of bed and breakfast accommodation. The aspiration is to return to a situation where no families are in temporary accommodation, but economic pressures and housing crisis are likely to require additional investment into temporary accommodation.

·       The service is always keen to learn and liaise with homeless advisors on good practice in other areas. Data for Leeds indicated 53 rough sleeper and 2,000 families currently in temporary accommodation and officers requested Cllr Waddington share details of recent meetings to speak about their approach to avoid use of bed and breakfast accommodation.

·       Individuals may rough sleep in the city if they are homeless but there are also individuals who are entrenched in street lifestyles and choose to rough sleep. A range of services are available, and teams go out 7 days a week and early mornings  to offer support. Services will ensure the appropriate support is provided to individuals to stabilise recovery and engage relevant organisations. Accommodation is available for individuals who choose to come and go if they are not ready to move to settled accommodation and officers will continue to work and support tenants and if alterations are required ensure the most appropriate support is in place to meet needs. It was agreed that further information would be provided regarding the impact of services.

·       Occupation of properties to ensure best use of stock has been reviewed but tenants cannot be forced to downsize. Consideration has also been given previously to use of spare room in properties but this would require further thought, particularly surrounding safeguarding.

·       The service has a bed and breakfast elimination plan that is monitored weekly and officers work with children services and public health to ensure families with children are receiving the right support. It is a government target for families to not reside in temporary accommodation for longer than six weeks but many local authorities across the country are unable to find suitable alternative accommodation with many families waiting months. It was agreed that further information would be provided on current figures.

·       The Department for Work and Pensions pay eligible individuals in the private rented sector a set amount determined by the local housing allowance which is set by government. The private rented sector team work to sustain tenancies and schemes are available for landlords to continue with tenancies. It was agreed that details of the schemes would be circulated.

The Director of Housing provided assurance that the City Mayor had written to Ministers on two occasions regarding the additional pressures of asylum seekers needing support for accommodation when the outcome of their case is positive and agreed that a further letter could be written to new Ministers. It was also noted that the Chief Operating Officer is the East Midlands representative and meets directly with Ministers to raise issues.

AGREED:

·       The Commission noted the report.

·       Additional information to be circulated to Members.

·       The Commission request that a letter be sent to Ministers regarding asylum cases.

·       The Commission request that officers explore and consider the Leeds temporary accommodation model in relation to bed and breakfast.