Agenda item

Following a request by the Performance Monitoring Panel at its meeting held on 15 November 2023, the Homelessness Reduction Manager will be in attendance to answer members’ questions.

Following presentation of the 2023/2024 Q2 Performance Report to the Performance Monitoring Panel on 15 November 2023, the Homelessness Reduction Manager attended to answer members’ questions.

The Homelessness Reduction Manager gave the following overview of the role of the homelessness service:

• To work with people who presented themselves to the team, including;
  • Residents who experienced difficulties with housing such as those coming to the end of a current situation where early intervention was key; or where individuals were already in a homeless situation; and
  • Residents who anticipated problems in the near future where general advice could be given; and
• Partnership working with Change4Lincs in liaison with the Rough Sleeper Team.

An update on requested data trends was presented to the Panel, which included that:

• 86 assessments had been undertaken, 31 of which were in Prevention, and 53 in Relief;
• The trends fluctuated seasonally with greater approaches made in the winter months and school holiday periods; and
• Identified trends reflected how the service operated.

Members thanked the Homelessness Reduction Manager for his attendance and the following comments were made:

• Members asked whether it was known whether those presenting as homeless were from outside of the district; was such information monitored; and was the provision of a hostel being considered.
  • The Homelessness Reduction Manager responded that:
    • The team established whether those presenting as homeless were SHDC residents, and this information was monitored ;
    • The obligations of the Council were limited to those with a local connection or where a person was fleeing certain situations, such as domestic abuse;
    • Where a local connection was not established, a person would be referred back to their origin local authority who were obliged to accept the case within ten days;
    • A hostel arrangement was being explored to improve the local situation; and
    • Assistance was refused by some homeless people and officers needed to be aware of individual circumstances when dealing with complex cases.
  • The Assistant Director – Wellbeing and Community Leadership added that:
    • Complex homelessness cases which related to a range of serious health and addiction issues posed challenges across the whole S&ELCP area; Lincolnshire County Council had statutory responsibilities for some of the issues;
    • S&ELCP officers understood their areas and the individuals they were working with and actively collaborated with key partners for funding applications when these were identified; and
    • Whilst the establishment of a hostel would involve significant financial cost, this option was being explored in the partnership sub-region, in liaison with a network of partners, as part of a whole system, multi-agency approach.

• Members stated that rough sleepers needed urgent shelter and that the multi-agency approach presented barriers to immediate assistance. Consequentially, such cases presented at overstretched services such as the NHS, social care, and police.
  • The Homelessness Reduction Manager stated that the team was required to operate within a legal framework. Research needed to take place on a case-by-case basis in order to best support the individual going forward and prevent a cycle of homelessness; and
  • The Assistant Director – Wellbeing and Community Leadership responded that rather being a drain on resources, the person-centric and multi-agency approach was aimed at reducing pressure on services, such as repeat crisis hospital admissions.

• Members asked for an outline of action taken when a rough sleeper was identified at night.
  • The Homelessness Reduction Manager responded that:
    • The Outreach Team executed a ‘person-centric’ approach which aimed to build rapport with individuals and endeavoured to establish the circumstances of the homeless situation;
    • Individuals would be given actions and advice in order to find a solution for their situation;
    • A Priority Needs Assessment would be undertaken and depending on the circumstances, accommodation may be offered that night; and
    • Severe Weather Emergency Protocol (SWEP) applied during a forecasted period of three or more consecutive nights with a minimum temperature of zero degrees.

• Members stated that individuals should be encouraged to seek help prior to being made homeless and utilise services such as the Citizens Advice Bureau.

• Members asked for details of involvement form the Lighthouse Church.
  • The Homelessness Reduction Manager responded that the Lighthouse Church provided much support in co-operation with the Council, including arrangements to house rough sleepers during SWEP.

• Members asked whether sufficient physical and financial resources were available to deal with the increased need.
  • The Homelessness Reduction Manager responded that:
    • The Council had received funding which ensured that sufficient support resources were in place; further funding would be sought according to need; and
    • This was monitored to ensure that the right resources were in place where needed.
  • The Assistant Director – Wellbeing and Community Leadership added that:
    • Rough Sleeper outreach resources were contracted out as required;
    • In-house resources were sufficient and the team worked efficiently and effectively adapting to both legislative and economic changes;
    • A Homelessness Prevention Grant and further top-up grant had been received from central government; and
    • Resources from additional schemes, such as the Local Authority Housing Scheme had been obtained, which included temporary accommodation opportunities.

• Members queried whether the outreach team patrolled the district 24 hours a day, or if their work was informed by public reports.

o   The Homelessness Reduction Manager responded that:

• Members asked whether private landlords were willing to assist those in receipt of Housing Benefit.
  • The Homelessness Reduction Manager responded that:
    • A stigma prevailed in this area however an Accommodation Officer had been introduced within the team to work with landlords in the temporary accommodation and private rented sector which aimed to build relationships and increase understanding;
    • The aim was for a resident to be in a position to support a home for the longer term and much work was undertaken with a resident, to ensure affordability, prior to any discharge of local authority duty and referral to the private rental sector;
    • There was a mixed approach as to whether Housing Benefit was paid direct to a private landlord or the resident.

• Members asked for the level of increase in respect of rough sleeping and homelessness within the last year.
  • The Homelessness Reduction Manager responded that:
    • A slight increase in ‘approaches’ had occurred; and
    • There was an upward trend in rough sleeping. The Rough Sleeper Count, undertaken in November every year, had seen an increase for South Holland from 7 to 10, and in Lincolnshire overall from 42 to 66.

• Members asked for the amount spent on temporary accommodation.
  • The Homelessness Reduction Manager responded that:
    • Spend per case depended on the number of people within a particular family group that needed to be housed; and
    • The 2023/2024 budget was set at £500,000, however for 2024/2025, this would be reduced to £350,000. Nightly accommodation costs were expensive, and options were being pursued so that the service could be delivered within the reduced budget.

• Members asked that the criteria assessment for rough sleepers be circulated to members of the panel.
  • The Homelessness Reduction Manager responded that this would be delivered as part of workshop for members.

• Members received requests for support from members of the public and asked for clarification of the best route for people to take if they anticipated homelessness.
  • The Homelessness Reduction Manager responded that:
    • Where support was requested directly to members, information should be forwarded to the homelessness inbox with contact details of the individual(s) concerned so that contact could be sought;
    • Individuals could call the council offices directly;
    • A link to the contact details for the Homelessness team was published on the council website;
    • In addition, Housing Advice Hubs were being set up in order to assist with prevention of homelessness - the first of which was anticipated to take place at the South Holland Centre in March 2024; and
    • The communication channels would be circulated to members.

• The Assistant Director – Wellbeing and Community Leadership concluded with a strong message for anyone who anticipated homelessness to contact the council at the earliest possible opportunity so that prevention support could be offered.

AGREED:

That the update be noted.