Agenda item

To update Members on measures being taken by the Council through its preventative work and resettlement pathways to provide support for people who are homeless.

Cllr Craghill addressed the committee under the Council’s scheme of public participation. She thanked the committee for discussing her motion to Council and expressed a wish to see more comprehensive data on how many rough sleepers had been turned away from services and the capacity of current hostel and emergency accommodation. She also asked that further clarity was provided on the provision of longer term social housing and on the reasons for homelessness and rough sleeping.

Members considered the report on the measures being taken by the Council to provide support for people who are homeless. Tom Brittain, Assistant Director for Housing and Community Safety, and Becky Ward, Service Manager for Homelessness, were in attendance to present the report and respond to Members’ questions. It was reported that the figures provided in paragraphs 21 and 26 of the report were incorrect and would be updated. During the discussion, the following points were made:

·        The Housing First model used by the council offered a range of support with housing, employment and emotional challenges and could provide intensive multi-agency support for individuals who met certain criteria. Funding for Making Every Adult Matter (MEAM) had now been confirmed.

·        A small number of homeless people remained unwilling to engage with services. Reasons for non-engagement were unique for each individual but could include an unwillingness to be part of the system (for example applying for social welfare payments), not wishing to live by the rules that governed hostels, or the belief that begging was more lucrative than employment. A small number are excluded from accommodation, for example after displaying violent behaviour or for drug use.

·        The Council’s No Second Night Out policy covered provision of emergency accommodation for those at immediate risk of rough sleeping. This could comprise beds made up on hostel floors and was not a sustainable option in the long term not least because such spaces were not paid for but still required staff support and other associated costs. Rough sleepers without a local connection could be supplied with the means to return to the appropriate local authority to access support.

·        Work was ongoing to look at Tier One and Move-On accommodation to help people out of hostels and into independent living. It was important to balance the needs of rough sleepers with others requiring social housing within the city.

·        Alternatives to hostel accommodation, including more “old fashioned”  style night shelters were discussed but such options raised safety concerns related to ungoverned open buildings. It was also reported that this would not provide a sustainable way of reducing rough sleeping and homelessness in the longer-term.

·         More work was required to increase public understanding of the support available to rough sleepers and on alternatives to offering money to those begging by making donations to charities instead.

Resolved:  To note the content of this report and to request additional information be included on work to engage with members of the public most likely to give to beggars.

Reason:     So Members are satisfied that issues around homeless people are being addressed.