Agenda item

To consult on and seek recommendations for the new Lincolnshire Homelessness Strategy 2022 – 2027 ready for adoption by the end of the calendar year (report of the Assistant Director for Wellbeing and Community Leadership enclosed). 

Consideration was given to the report of the Assistant Director – Wellbeing and Community Leadership to consult on and seek recommendations for the new Lincolnshire Homelessness Strategy 2022-2027 ready for adoption by the end of the calendar year.

The Homelessness Reduction and Private Sector Improvement Manager introduced the report by stating that The Homelessness Act 2002 required all housing authorities to publish and maintain a homelessness strategy. The existing strategy covered the period 2017 to 2021, which had been extended by twelve months to enable a post-Covid policy to be drafted.

Appendix A detailed the review of the Lincolnshire Homelessness Strategy 2017-2022;

Appendix B outlined the Draft Lincolnshire Homelessness Strategy 2022-2017 which stated the five key priorities as:

• Prevent;
• Protect;
• Partnerships;
• Place; and
• Plan.

Appendix C summarised the consultation which had taken place with focus groups and one-to-one meetings.

The Panel considered the report and made the following comments:

• Members noted points 3 and 4 of the consultation summary (Appendix C) and queried whether the revised draft strategy had been recirculated for feedback. It was important to check whether the changes were considered effective.
  • The Homelessness Reduction and Private Sector Improvement Manager was not aware that the document had been recirculated but would check with the Lincolnshire Housing Partnerships Manager and update the Panel after the meeting.

• Members referred to point 2.2 of the report and asked for details of the plan to tackle rough sleeping.
  • The Homelessness Reduction and Private Sector Improvement Manager stated that the plan to tackle rough sleeping was a key priority within the strategy and was detailed within the ‘pathways’ narratives within the strategy. A pro-active approach which focussed on prevention had continued to prove beneficial. This included partnership working with:
    • the Health Sector;
    • the Change For Lincs project; and
    • the seven district councils within the county.

• Members referred to the ‘homeless and in priority need’ statistics and questioned whether this included people living in temporary accommodation; and how many people were currently living in temporary accommodation?
  • The Homelessness Reduction and Private Sector Improvement Manager would advise the Panel of the ‘number of people living in temporary accommodation’ after the meeting. It was confirmed that the ‘homeless and in priority need statistics’ figures included:
    • people living in temporary accommodation;
    • people who provided their own temporary accommodation;
    • people who had opted not to go into temporary accommodation; and
    • people who were threatened with homelessness.

• Members referred to the current cost of living pressures and the impact this could have on homelessness. How soon would the policy be implemented?
  • The Homelessness Reduction and Private Sector Improvement Manager stated that the strategy would be implemented by the end of December 2022. The anticipated challenges were acknowledged and this had supported the importance of the proactive approached outlined in the strategy.
  • The Assistant Director – Wellbeing and Community Leadership confirmed that S&ELCP authorities were working to the same scrutiny process and timeframe as SHDC.

AGREED:

That following review by the Panel of the draft Lincolnshire Homelessness Strategy 2022-2027, the recommendations be put forward for any amendments or inclusions for final approval by the Portfolio Holder for HRA and Private Sector Housing.