Agenda item

The Director of Housing submits a report to advise members of the Housing Scrutiny Commission on plans to implement the changes agreed as part of the homelessness strategy; a new service offer for homeless families.

Leicester’s fourth Homelessness Strategy was formally agreed May 2018. Since this was formally adopted work has been ongoing to implement the agreed actions / proposals and build on the extensive work already in place.

The Housing Scrutiny Commission are asked for their feedback for the improved service offer for families.

The Director of Housing submitted a report and presentation to advise

Members of the Housing Scrutiny Commission on plans to implement the

changes agreed as part of the homelessness strategy; a new service offer

for homeless families.

·         It was noted as a driver to provide homeless families with temporary self-contained homes.

·         The project aim was to replace Border House Hostel with homes across the city, to minimise the impact on lives and enable people to remain in their current communities.

·         This was noted as a cost-neutral decision and made to improve the Councils service offer.

·         Border house was reported to be an outdated model and very institutionalised and even with major refurbishment Border House would not be conducive for those going through homelessness and to one’s mental wellbeing. As well as taking into account a fire risk assessment expedition, the decision was made to propose to decommission Border House.

·         The new offer had many benefits including to keep children in their existing schools.

·         A new visiting support service for families was being proposed.

·         Before the closure of Border House, Officers would ensure that the new model was robust and sustainable.

·         Following the closing of Border House which would only be closed when all families had moved into their accommodation, the family support service would also close, those staying in temporary homes across the City would be able to continue to access Childcare arrangements they and their children were familiar with. Services would also be working closely with Children’s Services. Less than 30% of families were cases with complex needs, most generally required only a home.

·         A consultation would take place with staff/ trade unions.

·         Customers had received this new service project in a positive way.

The Officers response to Members queries and also gave explanations;

·         The impact of the Homeless Reduction Act had seen the service receive funds which allowed for the new recruiting of staff. However, the fund was short term and not guaranteed, and the level of staff would not be able to be maintained if the service did not receive it again.

·         A full report would be bought back for the subsequent strategy. The purpose of the new strategy was to look at new resolutions and other initiatives to deal with overcrowding and under occupying.

·         The Chair agreed that a report on overcrowding and what was being done to bring it down should be bought back to the commission.

·         A Member of the Commission expressed agreement with the strapline ‘Homes Not Hostels’ which aimed to give families a home to live in not a hostel.

·         There were currently 30 – 50 furnished temporary accommodation homes dispersed across the city.

·         Once the Border House site was completely cleared and the service moved to the new model then the site/ building would be demolished, and the new purpose of the site considered.

·         It was hoped that permanent full-time employees’ posts would be absorbed into the new model or the Dawn Centre.

·         It was proposed to ensure that every family was offered access to support services and an individual family worker.

·         It was noted that there were 73 families, of which 33 lived in Border House and the remainder in self-contained houses. The team had already been reducing the number of families in Border House.

·         Further discussions included ways of incentivising people to downsize homes,

Private landlords and Licensing private rented sector

·         Private landlords charging high rental rates was discussed, of which the Assistant Mayor for Housing noted that a Landlords forum took place 6 months ago. The service would be looking to use the forum to strengthen relationships with the private rented sector.

·         Potential landlords existed that could also assist with the homeless cohort.

·         The Assistant City Mayor for Housing and Education - Councillor Cutkelvin had received a piece of work carried out to identify which areas would benefit from the selective private rented sector licensing scheme.

·         Soft launches would continue to take place to inform people of the project’s progress.

·         At that point it would need to be clear what was hoped to be achieved from the licensing scheme, why certain areas were chosen and be clear on the narrative. Following this a consultation process would take place.

AGREED:

1.    Support report for Homes not hostels, particular attention needs to be given to support families to transition.  Commission to receive regular update reports on this work.

2.    This Committee to receive further details on how overcrowding is being tackled including initiatives, targets and timescales.

3.    Staff at risk should be supported and offered new roles where possible.

4.    As explained by Asst Mayor – future report on private rented sector work to this commission.

Council Pickering departed the meeting at 19:05 during consideration of this item.