Next steps - Rough Sleeping and Accommodation

during Covid 19 Pandemic and Recovery

JOINT GREEN GROUP AND LABOUR GROUP AMENDMENT

To amend recommendation 2.12 to include:

This committee Notes:

· That on 25^th June 2019 a Petition with (currently) 2,667 signatures was presented to the Council by Brighton & Hove Housing Coalition, with the support of FEANTSA and Just Fair, calling on it to adopt the Homeless Bill of Rights.

· That the Council Plan 2019-23, states that “We will … adopt a Bill of Rights for homeless people”;

· That the Homelessness and Rough Sleepers Strategy approved by the Housing Committee on 17^th June 2020 states that “The values of the … Strategy align to aspirations within the Homeless Bill of Rights as amended for Brighton & Hove by Housing Rights Watch, FEANTSA and Just Fair” (page 11).

· That the Next Steps report presented to the Housing Committee of 17^th March 2021 proposes that Housing Committee recommend to Full Council the use of the Homeless Bill of Rights, as a standard against which the Council and its partners judge our policies and practices.

· That the Homeless Bill of Rights User Guide, by Housing Rights Watch, states that “The bravest municipalities believe that endorsing the Bill of Rights was something they wanted to do. They did this showing a public commitment to its content and sending a signed copy of the Bill to FEANTSA. The bill is only a starting point for continuous commitment, improvement and engagement to defend rights of homeless people”;

· That according to the Legal Implications section of the said Next Steps report, “According to the council’s constitution, the ‘Endorsing, approving or otherwise committing the Council to any charter, alliance or pledge’ is a full council function. The recommendation at 2.8 is consistent with the constitution’s requirements”.

This committee resolves to recommend to full council:

· To adopt the Homeless Bill of Rights as an aspirational document and as the standard against which the Council and its partners judge its policies and practices and outcomes.

· A copy of this resolution is signed by the Leader and sent to FEANTSA to mark its commitment to the international movement of solidarity with homeless people.

· To commit to a process of continuous commitment, improvement and engagement to uphold rights of homeless people.

Proposed by Councillor Williams Seconded by Councillor Gibson

Recommendations if carried to read:

2.1 That Housing Committee note the progress to date.

2.2 That Housing Committee note the continued role of the Homeless Reduction

Board in monitoring progress on meeting the conditions of NSAP funding and

next steps.

2.3 That Housing Committee note the move on projections outlined in the report for

those clients covered by Next Steps Accommodation Funding (Covid-1 in the

report) and the continued emergency accommodation requirements for this

cohort beyond 31st March 2021.

2.4 That Housing Committee note the move on projections for those assessed as at

risk of rough sleeping who we have continued to accommodate (Covid-2 in the

report) and the ongoing emergency accommodation requirements of those we

have housed during the on-going pandemic into the new (2021-22) financial year.

2.5 That Housing Committee agree that by 21st June 2021, the accommodation offer

to those assessed as at risk of rough sleeping made for the duration of the

pandemic (Covid-2 in the report) is ended where no accommodation duty is owed

by the council as outlined in paragraphs 3.11 – 3.13. This to be reviewed if there

is a further increase in the pandemic.

2.6 That Housing committee note the low number of verified rough sleepers (para

3.23) and that the Council will continue to seek to offer accommodation to all

verified rough sleepers to whom the duty is owed to consolidate this achievement.

2.7 That Housing Committee agree Homeless Reduction Board oversee progress

with the recovery of homelessness services, including face to face services,

income recovery, move on and reconnections with a report on progress to the

next Housing Committee.

2.8 That Housing Committee recommend referral to Full Council the use of the

Homeless Bill of Rights, as outlined in paragraph 3.24, as a standard against

which the Council and its partners judge our policies and practices. Appendix 2.

That Housing Committee recommend to Policy & Resources committee:

2.9 That the Executive Director of Housing, Neighbourhoods & Communities be

granted delegated authority to secure accommodation up to the 31st October

2021, by entering into contracts to extend existing arrangements or alternative

arrangements where necessary to extend the provision of shorter-term/interim

accommodation acquired in response to the Covid 19 pandemic, including a

building to deliver the No Second Night Out service up to the beginning of

October 2021.

2.10 Agree to continue to support people in the accommodation secured as para 2.9

which includes security, support and food where necessary estimated to cost

£2.900m to 1st October 2021.

2.11 Note that if Contain Outbreak Management Fund (COMF) funding is not

available, this could create a service pressure of £2.043m.