The Head of Housing and Community Services introduced the report and explained that current housing legislation sets out certain persons not eligible for assistance, which largely relates to immigration status. While Local Housing Authorities (LHAs) were prevented from providing housing support to ineligible EEA nationals, there had been encouragement to ensure accommodation for those who are street homeless during the Covid-19 pandemic. The Rough Sleeper Initiative and Homelessness Flexible grants could not be applied to ineligible persons, however a new grant for the containment of Covid-19 could be used to fund housing assistance.

In response to questions, it was clarified that there was no central policy that could be adopted, and that Maidstone Borough Council would be one of the first LHAs locally to create a document specifically relating to EEA nationals in this period. 

Specialist advisors from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government had been consulted regarding the assistance to ineligible rough sleepers as proposed.

RESOLVED: That option 2 set out in the report be adopted.