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Homelessness Strategy
Meeting: 17/09/2019 - Communities, Housing and Environment Committee (Item 51)
51 Homelessness and Rough Sleeper Strategy 2019 - 2024 PDF 61 KB
Additional documents:
- Appendix 1: Homelessness and Rough Sleeper Strategy 2019 – 2024, item 51 PDF 443 KB View as HTML (51/2) 266 KB
- Appendix 2: Consultation Feedback, item 51 PDF 153 KB View as HTML (51/3) 65 KB
Minutes:
The Housing and Inclusion Manager introduced a report which set out the final Homelessness and Rough Sleeper Strategy 2019-2024. This followed a public consultation that took place in the summer of 2019.
It was noted that the majority of the 500 respondents agreed with the four key themes/priorities. These were:-
1. Prevent homelessness
2. Provide accommodation
3. Supporting vulnerable people
4. Tackling rough sleeping
In response to questions from the Committee, Officers said that:-
·
It was likely that central government would continue
to fund the Council’s rough sleeper programme. However, the Council did have some reserves that
could still be utilised if required.
·
A Members’ Briefing would be held on
7th October 2019 which would provide Members with
further information about Housing Allocations Scheme and how these
impacted on homelessness.
·
Informal discussions with housing providers had been
undertaken but a formal consultation was to commence in the
new year.
·
Funding had been withdrawn for Trinity Foyer and
Lily Smith House as KCC had recommissioned their service
delivery.
·
Although the Council was reducing the amount of face
to face contact at the Link, it would still support those who did
not have access to digital devices.
·
The waiting times for 3 and 4 bedroomed properties
was dependant on what properties were coming through from housing
association partners. However, the
Council was working with private rented landlords to offer
incentives and had made some headway in promoting access for
clients.
·
The housing triage team provide support in many
ways. This included face to face
assistance at the Link, as well as house visits and a dedicated
outreach team tasked with assisting those in the rural
areas.
·
The last survey to identify street homeless was
undertaken in July and revealed that 6 people were sleeping
rough. The next survey would be
undertaken this month.
·
The Public Space Protection Order in place in the
Town Centre did not ban alcohol, but it did cover incidents where
persons were drinking alcohol and causing a
disturbance.
·
The proposed Staying Put Incentive encouraged
persons to stay in their current accommodation rather than needing
temporary accommodation by providing greater opportunity to resolve
their housing issues through the Housing Register.
·
A glossary of terms would be added to the
Strategy.
· A section was to be added to the Strategy, as stated in 3.5 of the action plan of the report, to ensure that the Council works with partners to bring forward improved health services.
In response to a Councillor’s account of her recent experience at the Link, the Head of Housing and Community undertook to look into the matter with the relevant Heads of Service.
RESOLVED: That
1) The Homelessness and Rough Sleeper Strategy 2019-2024, attached as Appendix 1 to the report, be approved subject to the following amendments as identified by the Committee:-
a)
A glossary of terms be
included.
b)
That 3.5 of the action plan be included in the
Strategy
to ensure that the Council works with
partners to bring
forward improved health ...
view the full minutes text for item 51