Issue - meetings

The report provides an update on work in progress to review the single homeless resettlement pathway which is developing the early intervention and intensive support approach for single people who become homeless or are rough sleeping. The report sets out the review findings, gives an update on external funding secured to support homelessness and rough sleeping initiatives and presents an update on existing service delivery arrangements and their outcomes.

Resolved:

i)     That the ongoing review of the Resettlement pathway and the interim contractual arrangements that had been put in place to continue the existing service until the pathway review was concluded and a future delivery model was agreed, be noted.

ii)    That the first phase of the review findings be implemented and that a waiver be sought to the financial and procurement rules to extend the contract for the Early Intervention & Prevention Service for 6 months to allow for the phased implementation of changes to the Early Intervention and Prevention services.

iii)  That the review of the resettlement pathway be concluded and a report setting out the new delivery model and the transition into new delivery arrangements be brought back to Executive.

Reason: To ensure ongoing service resilience and the delivery of early improvements during the next phase of the review of the delivery model for homelessness resettlement.

The Executive Member considered a report that provided an update on work in progress to review the single homeless resettlement pathway which was developing the early intervention and intensive support approach for single people who became homeless or were rough sleeping.

The Director of Housing, Economy and Regeneration and the Head of Housing Management Services set out the review findings, gave an update on external funding secured to support homelessness and rough sleeping initiatives, and presented an update on existing service delivery arrangements and their outcomes.

Officers explained that the homeless resettlement pathway supported people back into settled housing, and that the latest contract review had indicated the need for a more intensive and personal intervention support approach. They confirmed that the additional monies received had allowed the council to develop, in consultation with the Department of Levelling Up Housing and Communities (DLUHC), additional services, including the Navigator model, which was tailored to individual needs and was more effective with people who were unwilling or unable to engage.

The Head of Housing Management Services also confirmed that:

·        rough sleeping numbers fluctuated daily and were currently below 9, which was last officially recorded in November 2022.

·        they met fortnightly with the Salvation Army to discuss the management and extension of their contract.

·        the Salvation Army’s Nap Pad facility was still available to house more complex individuals.

·        meetings had been arranged with adults commissioning to discuss the resettlement review and specialist accommodation and support.

The Executive Member noted the range of services and housing models available to support homeless people, and that the resettlement pathway supported single homeless people rather than families. Officers confirmed that the Homeless Reduction Act 2017 required the council to deal with homelessness in a very structured way and the response had been to develop the existing pathways, which included James House for families who found themselves homeless.

The Executive Member confirmed that she had attended the resettlement review workshops and she welcomed close partnership working to prevent people from circulating from rough sleeping into accommodation and then back onto the streets again.

The Executive Member noted that the review was building on approaches in York that had already been successful, and she also noted the importance to maximise the effectiveness of the resources available to respond to the current cost of living pressures and she

Resolved:

i)     That the ongoing review of the Resettlement pathway and the interim contractual arrangements that had been put in place to continue the existing service until the pathway review was concluded and a future delivery model was agreed, be noted.

ii)    That the first phase of the review findings be implemented and that a waiver be sought to the financial and procurement rules to extend the contract for the Early Intervention & Prevention Service for 6 months to allow for the phased implementation of changes to the Early Intervention and Prevention services.

iii)  That the review of the resettlement pathway be concluded and a report setting out the new delivery model and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 12