Agenda item

The Director of Housing and Executive submit a report which seeks the comments of the Housing Scrutiny Commission on the first 18 months of the Homelessness Strategy. The Commission is asked to note the recommendations in the report, and make and comments it sees fit to the Director of Housing and Executive.

The Director of Housing and Executive submitted a report for comment on the first 18 months of the Homeless Strategy. The Commission was asked to note the recommendations in the report, and make any comments to the Director of Housing and Executive.

The report considered operational data for the first 18 months up to September 2015 since the implementation of the Single Access and Referral Service in April 2014. Members were informed the service was based in Housing Options.

It was noted that:

a)    People facing homelessness went through a single point of contact, and all data was now directly comparable to the previous year.

b)    The rise in the use of bed and breakfast accommodation for families peaked in quarter 1, with 44 families needing to be accommodated. Initiative in quarter 2 reduced the number to 19, and in quarter 3 would be even lower.

c)    The number of repeat homeless cases was 58 as at end of September 2015. The target figure was 53.

d)    As at September 2015 end, there were 15 beggars in the street who did have somewhere to live or had refused all offers of assistance.

e)    The service looked to place people straight into a tenancy, rather than through temporary accommodation, for example, if they had lost a private tenancy through no fault of their own.

f)     The pilot of having a Housing Options Officer based at the Bradgate Mental Health Unit had been successful. The Officer worked with health services to speed up the discharge of patients who were well enough to leave hospital, but might not have suitable accommodation to return to. The scheme reduced bed blocking and a similar role was being piloted at the Leicester Royal Infirmary.

g)    1/3 of the lets go towards addressing homelessness.

h)   There had been an increase in demand, with more evictions occurring in the private sector. Landlords could achieve higher rental income that what was covered by Housing Benefit (HB), and there was a concern that more evictions would occur when HB was capped.

i)     The emphasis is the prevention of homelessness, but sometimes there are crisis cases, for example, domestic violence, asylum seekers, people being asked to leave by family and friends.

j)      The general conclusion was that progress reported in September 2015 was being sustained, though a watchful eye would be kept on the effects of Universal Credit on the service.

The report recommended that no change to the current strategy be made at this time due to the continued increase of those requesting assistance when facing homelessness, and that the Commission receive a further two-year progress report in July 2016.

In response to Members’ questions it was noted:

a)    The number of bed spaces could only be reduced if other initiatives reduced need. Currently there was 96% occupancy, and the recommendation was to keep it at that number.

b)    Usually a family would only be placed in a bed and breakfast if they were in crisis, and the service had not had the opportunity to plan alternative accommodation, usually an average of 3 days for families, which was well under the government target of 6 weeks.

c)    Hostels that were closed two years previously (Lowers Hastings Street / Upper Tichborne Street / Loughborough Road) had been, or were subject to plans to, refurbish the properties.

d)    Landlords were duty-bound to bring a valid notice (Section 21 Notice) to the attention of tenants. Housing was well versed in seeing poor quality notices, and landlords were challenged to serve a legal notice. Housing Options would try and save the tenancy and solve issues for the tenant / landlord.

e)    Tenants were worried they would have to pay court costs. With the reduction in the number of lets, it was essential that time be increased to enable the tenant to remain in the property and not be made homeless. Housing Options would pay court costs, so tenants could have stability and remain in their home.

The Chair said it would be useful to have expanded information on placing families/people in bed and breakfasts, and the costs to the service. Members asked that the next monitoring report includes a paragraph on how much had been paid out in court costs for tenants that had been evicted by private landlords.

The Chair thanked officers for the report and observations made, and looked forward to a future report in the summer.

AGREED:

That:

1.    The report be noted;

2.    The Head of Service in the next monitoring report provides expanded information on placing families/people in bed and breakfasts and the cost to the service, and how much had been paid out in court costs for tenants that had been evicted by private landlords.