Agenda item

The Director of Housing submits a report providing an update on homelessness in the City and progress in relation to the delivery of the Full Council Decision on the 21^st March 2024 to invest £45m into additional Homelessness accommodation and services.

The Director of Housing submitted a report providing an update on homelessness in the city and progress in relation to the delivery of the Full Council Decision on the 21st March 2024 to invest £45m into additional Homelessness accommodation and services.

The Deputy City Mayor for Housing, Economy, and Neighbourhoods introduced the item and noted that:

• The housing crises and subsequent increasing financial pressure, particularly concerning temporary accommodation, was highlighted as being a main contributing factor for Local Authorities facing a Section 114.
• A decision had been taken in March 2024 at Full Council to invest £45m into accommodation and support services. The focus was on prevention of homelessness and also providing better types of accommodation.
• Homelessness figures had peaked in May 2024 with record numbers of homeless people being placed in hotels and Bed and Breakfast establishments, but this had reduced by 50% since that peak.

The Director of Housing gave an overview of the report which gave an update on homelessness in the City and progress in relation to the delivery of the Full Council Decision on the 21st March 2024 to invest £45m into additional Homelessness accommodation and services.

The following was noted:

• The National picture of homelessness showed that there had been a rapid rise in the number of rough sleepers, a big rise in those approaching homelessness services and a sharp rise in the numbers of people being placed in temporary accommodation. 
• The increased staffing levels had lead to a reduction in case loads and more proactive approaches to prevent homelessness.
• Leicester’s performance compared favourably to the national average with an increase to a 67% prevention rate, the national figure was 51%.
• At the beginning of November 2024, the council had committed £22.5M of the £45m secured and there had been a total of 181 new purchases of temporary accommodation units. At the time of the OSC meeting, the Council had now committed just over £30m and secured the 225 properties.
• There was ongoing partnership work across the city.
• The Council remained on target to deliver the target of over 1500 new permanent affordable homes.
• Significant works were ongoing to deliver the action plan.
• As of 5th November 2024, there were 517 families in temporary accommodation, this was a 30% reduction from the June 2024 peak.
• The number of families in bed and breakfast had reduced by almost 50% since June 2024.
• The average length of stay in bed and breakfasts still breeched the law but had reduced by 50% to less than 90 days.
• The Full Council decision of March was forecast to save the Local Authority £6m that financial year, £27m next year and £45m in 26/27
• Based on projected figures, it is expected that there will not be any single people in bed and breakfast by early 2025. Families in temporary accommodation should reduce to 288 families by August 2026.
• Looking forward though, it was clear that there was a need for more accommodation across the City.
• Further capital proposals had been included in the HRA housing and revenue budget.
• It was expected that the budget would include a significant capital injection to include more permanent housing.
• The Local Authority was also exploring further avenues to deliver affordable housing with Homes England and other sources.

The Commission were invited to ask questions and make comments for the officers to respond. Key points included:

• Figures presented were not based on a redefinition of terms.
• The average length of stay in temporary accommodation was 90 days. Individual circumstances differed.
• 225 temporary accommodation units had now been secured. 91 of these were for families or singles. 134 were for singles and were not yet lived in. There were quite a significant number waiting for final legal completion.
• Figures on non-vulnerable singles would be circulated to members following the meeting.
• Homes Not Hostels aimed to find appropriate temporary properties for people in their current area. This meant that they were less likely to have to change Doctor’s Surgeries so continuity of health care could continue.
•  The longest accommodated resident at The Dawn Centre remained due to them wishing to stay at the centre, but this was not usual practice. The centre was an assessment centre and was not intended for use as long term accommodation.
• Void numbers were below the national average and were below 2%. 
• Work was on going with mental health service to look at how matters could improve with appropriate referrals within temporary housing. 
• There had been notable success during the pandemic with taking people into temporary accommodation. Many had moved to permanent accommodation but sadly some of these had failed and some people had ended back on the street and with Homelessness services. Moving forward, the Local Authority looked to provide additional support services to prevent this cycle by providing more Supported Housing.
• Infrastructure projects were ongoing for Ashton Green. 
• The works at Southfields Drive had been impacted by many factors including Brexit, inflation and issues within the construction trade as a whole.
• Announced borrowing did not necessarily mean borrowing from schemes, it could come from the Local Authority cash balances.  Reserves and cash balances were not the same pot of money. 
• The Government Works Loans Board was the government’s central body for borrowing money from.
• The Chair felt additional clarification on borrowing would be useful outside of the meeting.
• Accommodation was always assessed on suitability and the Local Authority aspired to meet with national space standards. There is not a set space standard for temporary accommodation, many authorities did not meet with this standard.
• The Bridge and Help the Homeless were two local organisations linked with the Local Authority.
• For the 350 temporary accommodation homes, the aim was for continual occupancy with new tenants moving in quickly after previous tenants had moved out to a more permanent Housing solution.  
• The Council was able to secure a percentage of housing benefits against temporary accommodation, and the difference was not charged to those in temporary accommodation. 
• Regarding disparity in terms of acquisition, there was a significant number of single dwellings. It was now necessary to focus and obtain more family units.
• Regarding temporary accommodation with disabled access, there were adjustments that could be made, but permanent solutions were more likely to be supplied.
• For recruitment, the Local Authority was currently at full staffing level for the Homelessness sector and this had been a critical feature regarding homelessness prevention.
• With some members stating there was a need for more social housing, the Local Authority would continue to explore all opportunities. There was currently a Government consultation on the Right to Buy scheme.
• New blocks of flats designed for temporary accommodation would have concierges and wrap around support facilities would be available, the Local Authority was currently looking to procure a contract which would facilitate this.  CCTV would be fitted, and proactive arrangements would be in place to ensure the mental and physical wellbeing of tenants.
• Breakdown figures on asylum seekers in families and singles could be provided
• A request was made to undertake Councillor briefing to aid understanding of the issue around homelessness.
• Numbers on people who moved from temporary accommodation into private accommodation due to a lack of suitable council housing would be provided.
• Numbers on people who moved from temporary accommodation into private accommodation due to a lack of suitable council housing would be provided.
• Further information on Greyfield sites would be produced.
• It was clarified that an application for housing assistance could be made from anywhere within the country. However, there was legal criteria in regards to homelessness. Generally if the applicant had an association with a particular area, they would normally be required to make the application there. Factors, would be taken into consideration, such as how long the person had lived or worked in the area.
• Regarding the sale of council properties, between 1000 and 1500 council housing units had been sold in the last 5 years.

AGREED

1) That the report be noted.

2) That comments made by members of this commission to be taken into account by the lead officers.