PAPER F

Purpose: For Decision

Committee: EXECUTIVE

Date: 26 MARCH 2002

Title: HOMELESSNESS STRATEGY AND ACTION PLAN

PORTFOLIO HOLDER - SOCIAL SERVICES AND HOUSING

SUMMARY/PURPOSE

To note the current position regarding homelessness and the proposed Homelessness Act 2002, and to approve the Homelessness Strategy and Action Plan.

BACKGROUND

The Homelessness Act 2002 received royal assent on 26 February, but is still to be published, and the indication is that the subsequent Orders and Code of Guidance will not be available until July. It now seems likely the Act will not now come into operation until the Autumn, so the position given in the briefing paper remains largely unchanged.

One of the requirements of the new Act will be for all local authorities to produce a Homeless Strategy, and the Government intends to issue guidance on the expected content of these strategies. This will include set target levels for Local Authorities to meet, but consultation on these are still ongoing.

In the meantime, a Homeless Strategy and Action Plan has been produced, based on current practices, and it is attached as Appendix A. In reality, this Council has always had a Homeless Strategy, but it has always been encompassed within the general Housing Strategy. It has never previously been a separate document.

It must be stressed that the document is only an interim Homeless Strategy and Action Plan that will almost certainly have to change when Government guidance is published. Nevertheless, members are asked, subject to any amendments they may have, to accept the recommendation of the Social Services, Housing and Benefits Select Committee held on 6 February 2002 to approve this Homelessness Strategy and Action Plan.

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

There are no immediate financial implications arising from this report, but there is the general background implication of the greater the availability of housing capital resources, the more houses for homeless families can be built, and ultimately the lower the revenue costs for B&B and other temporary accommodation.

RECOMMENDATION

Subject to any amendments, to approve the attached Homelessness Strategy and Action Plan

BACKGROUND PAPERS

Housing Act 1996 and Homeless Act 2002

Contact: Chris Binnie, Head of Housing Tel: 823061

C WADDICOR Strategic Director Social Services and Housing

J BOWKER Portfolio Holder – Social Services and Housing

APPENDIX A

HOMELESSNESS STRATEGY

and ACTION PLAN

2002-2003

February 2002

1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 This document gives an overview of the Isle of Wight Council’s Homelessness Strategy for 2002/03, based on the requirements of the Housing Act 1996, Parts VI and VII.

1.2 It is anticipated that the publication of the Homelessness Act 2002 will significantly change this strategy, not least by the requirement to produce a five year strategy, probably in 2003. This document is, therefore interim, and which will remain operative until the new strategy is formulated.

2. HOMELESSNESS PROFILE OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT

2.1 The Council received 468 homeless applications in 2000/01, 297 of whom were accepted as statutory homeless, and for whom the Council had an accommodation duty. These were the highest levels of homelessness since 1997/98. The terminating of private sector assured shorthold tenancies remained the single case of homeless, accounting for 40% of all homelessness.

2.2 By 31.12.01, the number of acceptances had already increased by 11%, with an expected outturn increase of 12% at 31.3.02, i.e. an anticipated 335 homeless acceptances in 2001/02. A further 10% increase is anticipated in 2002/03.

2.3 At the end of 2000/01 68 families were in B & B, compared to 54 the year before. During 2001/02, this increased to almost 80, before initiatives to reduce the B&B took effect, when it reduced to 63 at 31.10.01. This degree of use of B&B is considered excessive by the Government’s B&B unit.

2.4 In addition to the 63 in B&B at 31.12.01, there were also an additional 265 families in assorted leased or temporary accommodation, in the Women’s Refuge, or who had made their own arrangements, a total of 328 families. In 2000/01, there were 362 nominations to Housing Associations, although not all of these were homeless families. The number of lets available through natural vacancies, new build, purchase, leasing etc., just about keeps up with the number of homeless, but no significant inroads into the backlog have been made for several years.

2.5 The Council’s formal rough sleepers counts show there to be less than 10 rough sleepers on the Island, although it is likely there are about 70 roofless single people who may sleep rough from time to time, and about 250 single people of no fixed abode who “sofa-surf” whilst under a serious threat of homelessness.

2.6 There are approximately 1450 people on the Council Statutory Housing Register, including those who have been accepted as homeless. This figure stays fairly constant, so the number of people joining the Register each year is more or less the same as the number being rehoused or who leave.

2.7 The Women’s Refuge accommodates about 45 women and their children each year, all of whom have been made homeless by domestic violence. The refuge consistently turns away more families than it can accommodate.

2.8 The Isle of Wight Housing Needs Survey 2001 shows the total annual affordable housing need to be 876 units. There is an insufficient supply to meet this expected need, and it anticipates a shortfall of 190 units per year.

2.9 The Isle of Wight Independent Housing Advice Centre deals with about 1400 clients per year, all of whom have a housing or housing related financial problem, are facing the possibility of homelessness, or live in inappropriate or poor housing conditions.

3. ACCOMMODATION NEEDS SUMMARY

3.1 Ryde accounts for 20.5% of all homelessness on the Island, with Sandown/ Shanklin at 18.5% and Newport 16.75%. Homelessness in the rural areas is relatively low.

3.2 The largest demand is for 1 & 2 bed accommodation, with fewer larger families requiring 3 or 4 bed houses.

4. OBJECTIVES

4.1 The broad objectives of this strategy are:

a) To endeavour to reduce homelessness through the provision of appropriate homeless prevention and advice services.

b) To reduce the total number of families/people in B&B and in particular to reduce the number of families with children in B&B

c) To reduce their length of stay in B&B

d) To reduce the numbers in B&B as a proportion of the total number in temporary accommodation.

e) To reduce the time taken to investigate homeless applications and issue the decision notification.

5. HOMELESS ACTION PLAN

5.1 To ensure the availability of appropriate and adequate housing advice services by:

a) support in the Independent Housing Advice Centre through core funding, to ensure the continued availability of:

i) housing and homeless advice services

ii) outreach surgeries

iii) advisory visits to high schools

b) providing a 24hr statutory homeless service, and during office hours homeless outreach services (and a home visit for elderly or disabled applicants)

c) by liaising with, and working in partnership with Social Services, police, Community Safety Partnership, Housing Benefit, CAB, RSL’s and private sector landlords and other relevant agencies to minimise the incidence of homelessness through rent arrears and anti-social behaviour.

5.2 To ensure:

a) homeless investigations are completed as quickly as possible,

b) the prompt issue of decision notifications

5.3 To reduce the use of B&B by maximising the availability of RSL and private sector alternatives, through

a) RSL market leasing schemes

b) Direct market renting

c) Providing funding for the Island Housing Advice Centre to operate a deposit guarantee scheme.

d) Bringing as many empty properties as possible back into use for homeless families.

e) Use of hard to let RSL units

5.4 Through an appropriate protocol, to work in partnership with the Social Services Independent Support Project to access supported private sector accommodation for 16/17 year olds and/or care leavers.

5.5 To work in partnership with local RSL’s to maximise the availability of new units of affordable social housing for homeless families, by maximising the return from:

a) Housing Corporation ADP funding

b) The Council’s own HIP/LASHG funding

c) PPG3/Sec106 planning gains

5.6 To ensure the maximum number of RSL vacancies are made available to homeless families by:

a) Securing 100% nomination rights on LA supported/funded new build homes, and a minimum of 75% nominated on relets and other vacancies

b) Ensuring homeless families are in one of the priority groups on the Statutory Housing Register and, when it comes into operation, the Common Housing Register.

6. TARGETS

Objective	Target	Timescale
1. To reduce the average number of homeless families in B&B (01/02 = 72)	60	31.3.04
2. To reduce the average number of weeks spent in B&B (01/02 = 18)	12	31.3.04
3. To increase the proportion of homeless decisions made within 33 days of application (01/02 = 80%)	90%	31.3.04