Homelessness Review and Strategy

Homelessness Review & Strategy Introduction & Summary

Under the Homelessness Act 2002 each local authority is required to:

• Carry out a review of homelessness and homelessness services in their area;
• To formulate and publish a homelessness strategy based on this review;
• To keep the strategy under review; and
• Consult other relevant statutory or voluntary agencies before adopting or modifying the strategy.

The homelessness review must consider:

• The levels and likely future levels of homelessness in the district;
• The activities and services provided which help to prevent homelessness, help to find accommodation for homeless and potentially homeless people, or provide support for them, including support to prevent them becoming homeless again;
• The resources available to the local authority and other relevant stakeholders for providing these services.

The strategy must include plans for:

• The prevention of homelessness
• Ensuring there is sufficient accommodation available to people who are, or may become homeless
• Ensuring that sufficient support for people who are, or who may become homeless, or who need support to prevent them from becoming homeless again.

The scope of the strategy must include

• All homeless people, including those who would not be considered to be in priority need for accommodation;
• All people at risk of becoming homeless, whether within 28 days or a longer period;
• People who might have become homeless intentionally;
• Homeless people in the area who might not have a local connection.

Summary

Homelessness Review

• High demand area with our waiting list increasing by 118% since 1999;
• Homelessness presentations increasing by 74% since 1999;
• Bed and Breakfast usage had increased by 633% since March 2000;
• Average stay in bed and breakfast in 2002/03 was 17 weeks;
• Net affordable housing need of 510 houses per annum;
• Increase in average house prices since 1999 of some 119%, which now means that on average our house prices are higher than those in the Eastern Region or England and Wales.
• Income levels on average £356.90, which is below that of the other Norfolk Districts, the Eastern Region and Great Britain and that
• We needed to improve our customer care and our inter-agency working.

Homelessness Strategy 2003

The data identified within our Review was presented at 2 very successful Homelessness Conferences and workshops were held to look at:

• How do we meet the Bed and Breakfast targets?
• How do we increase the housing options available in North Norfolk?
• How do we ensure our service is customer focused?
• How do we ensure a joined up inter-agency approach to our services?
• How do we increase the amount of social housing within North Norfolk?

The main issues that have been addressed within our Strategy are:

• Improving service standards;
• Improving and increasing our range of temporary accommodation;

• Homelessness Prevention;
• Increasing Housing Options and

• Improving Inter-Agency Working.

The actions that we are to carry out to tackle these issues are:

Service Standards

• Translation of Homelessness Application form and Homelessness Guide to Service Leaflet September 2003.
• Review on interactive Internet access to Housing Application January 2004.
• Establish an ongoing customer survey September 2003.
• Establish a customer focus group October 2003.
• Develop an ongoing training programme October 2003.
• To establish a customer updating system September 2003.
• Ensure housing advice is available to all ongoing.

Temporary Accommodation

• Stalham scheme of 8 flats in partnership with Wherry Housing Association March 2004.
• Cromer scheme of 12 flats in partnership with Wherry Housing Association March 2004.
• Increase Private Sector Leased Properties target 10 in 2003/04 ongoing.
• Consider feasibility of alternative types of temporary accommodation October 2003.
• Self-fund Accommodation Officers post March 2004.
• Action plan for each B&B establishment to meet required standard Sept 2003.
• Temporary accommodation information pack produced October 2003.
• Tenancy support offered to those in temporary accommodation July 2003.

Inter-Agency Working

• Establish a Homelessness Forum Sept 2003.
• Implement a common monitoring system January 2004.
• Implement a joint referral system January 2004.

Homelessness Prevention

• Decrease homelessness presentations ongoing.
• Decrease homelessness repeat presentations ongoing.
• Ensure support for those rehoused due to homelessness August 2003.
• Develop housing advice line March 2004.
  • Increase our education and information services ongoing.
  • Carry out a feasibility study into setting up a Home Improvement Agency Sept 2003.
  • Introduce a mediation service Sept 2003.
  • Maximise the use of the Benefit Help and Advice Team ongoing
  • Install new housing benefit system 2004/05
  • Referral system for those threatened with homelessness due to delay in Housing Benefit July 2003.

Housing Options

• To increase the amount of affordable housing available in North Norfolk ongoing
• Maximise the amount of affordable housing achieved through planning gain ongoing
• To work with the PCT to develop affordable housing ongoing
• Ensure a corporate approach to planning ongoing
• Reduction in void turnaround August 2003.
• Introduce a transfer incentive scheme Sept 2003.
• Develop Rent Guarantor Scheme August 2003.
• Review Allocation Policy Nov 2003.

Homelessness Forum

You will see that one of the actions in the Strategy is to set up a Homelessness Forum to help implement and monitor progress. The first meeting was held in September 2003 and have since been held in January 2004, May 2004, October 2004 and January 2005.

The idea of the meetings is that the Strategy can be monitored and that we can update all stakeholders on our work. We also have presentations from relevenat stakeholders.

The May 2004 forum suggested an establishment of a Housing Needs Team newlsletter the first newsletter was produced in June 2004 and the second in February 2005 to help keep everyone up to date.

Homelessness Beacon Review

To assist us with improving our service we had in March 2004 a review carried out by 3 Local Authorities. These authorities have been awarded beacon status for their homelessness service.

There were four clear aims of the review:-

1. To review the council's strategy for tackling homelessness
2. To evaluate the effectiveness of the council's efforts to prevent homelessness.
3. To identify the main risks and opportunities for improvement.
4. To make clear recommendations for improvement.

The Main Findings were:

1. There is a strong corporate commitment in North Norfolk to tackling homelessness. This is evidenced at Chief Officer and Member level.
2. There are committed and enthusiastic staff who have achieved much in the last 12 months and who recognise the need for further change.
3. Most of the essential building blocks for success are in place but these now need to be translated into practical and measurable actions.
4. There are excellent strategies across the range of housing functions.
5. There is a considerable potential for sustained success in tackling homelessness, but also some significant risks.

The report was presented to our June 2004 Cabinet for consideration of their recommendations.

If you wish to discuss the Strategy or have any comments on the documents, please call Karen Hill, Strategic Housing Manager on 01263-516183 or email karen.hill@north-norfolk.gov.uk