Issue - items at meetings - Homelessness Strategy 2014 - 2019

Report of the Executive Director Environment, Development & Housing (copy attached).

(1)       That the Homelessness Strategy 2014-2019 be adopted.

9.1       The Committee considered a report of the Executive Director Environment Development and Housing which outlined the development of Brighton and Hove City Council’s Homelessness Strategy 2014-19 which was a sub strategy of the Citywide Housing Strategy.  The strategy set out the council’s strategic approach to responding to and preventing homelessness in its area. 

9.2       The Service Improvement Manager Housing Options gave a presentation in which he set out the background, vision, guiding principles and strategic objectives of the strategy.  The presentation also covered priory groups and issues and details of how the strategy would be delivered, monitored and reviewed.

9.3       Councillor Wilson raised the issue of the unintended result of welfare reform in relation to the shared room rate and the lifting of the upper level to 35.  As a result people under 35, even if they were working, would not be able to access private rented tenancies as landlord were worried about the risk of them becoming unemployed.  There were also fears about the effect of universal credit on tenancies.   

9.4       The Chair mentioned that these concerns had been discussed at the Housing Strategy Day.  He emphasised that the partnership element of the strategy was very successful.  Public Health was also carrying out work at the moment on a strategy for better health care for homeless people.  The Chair suggested it would be useful to ask Alistair Hill, Public Health Consultant to speak to the Committee about this work at a future meeting. 

9.5       Councillor Mears referred to page 134 of the agenda which made reference to the Homeless Integrated Programme Board.  Councillor Mears asked to see the terms of reference of the Board and asked for reassurance that it covered all the whole of the homeless strategy and not just single homeless.   Councillor Mears referred to the diagram on page 131 of the agenda and expressed concern that it looked as if there would be no decisions made at Housing Committee about homelessness and that this matter would be considered by the Health and Wellbeing Board.  

9.6       Councillor Mears asked what would happen to the Supporting People budget.  There were a large number of people in the voluntary sector doing work around homelessness.  She asked how this money would be spent and for reassurance that there would be no cuts to the voluntary sector around the services they delivered.

9.7       The Executive Director Environment, Development and Housing explained that there were plans to integrate the supporting people budget with health and social care.  Meanwhile, the Housing Committee would continue to make its own decisions and would remain sovereign in its own right.  However the Health and Wellbeing Board could refer matters to the Committee.  With regard to the budget, the council would soon be entering into budget consultation and it would be up members to decide how the budget should be allocated. 

9.8       The Service Improvement Manager Housing Options informed members that the Homeless Integrated Programme Board was chaired by the Clinical Commissioning Group.  The Homeless Operation Board was attended by officers.  The Better Care Programme Board was chaired by the Executive Director Adult Services and reported to the Health and Wellbeing Board.  The governance in this area was still being developed, but information would be brought to the committee in due course.

9.9       With regard to the question about single people, members were informed that the issues considered by the Homeless Integrated Programme Board were matters such as the Homeless Pathways Hospital Pilot and around drug and alcohol misuse.  It was suggested that when Alistair Hill, Public Health Consultant attended the Committee he should be asked to bring the terms of reference of the programme board and address the issues raised at this meeting.  

9.10    The Head of Housing Support (Supporting People) explained that she was a member of the Homeless Integrated Programme Board as a housing representative.  It was chaired by Alistair Hill and had an agreed terms of reference.  The Board’s remit was to look at integrating health and social care specifically for homeless clients, people in temporary accommodation and rough sleepers.  In terms of commissioning the Board could make recommendations but did not have a decision making role.  The idea of the Board was to get people from Public Health, Housing, Adult Social Care and GPs around the table to discuss services for homeless clients.   It was confirmed that the Board was discussing issues relating to single homeless people.

9.11    Councillor Mears expressed concern that this work was all around single homelessness.  She stressed that homelessness could be caused by domestic violence and family breakup.    

9.12    Councillor Farrow expressed concern about the budget for Supporting People.  At the housing conference Andy Winter, Chief Executive of the Brighton Housing Trust had stated that a decision would be made on the budget in March.  The Executive Director of Environment, Development and Housing replied that he imagined that Mr Winter was referring to the budget process in February 2015.  Budget papers would be available for councillors in the summer/autumn period.   The Chair explained that Mr Winter was probably referring to the fact that the supporting People programme was sue to finish in March.

9.13    Councillor Phillips expressed concern at the way homelessness had increased over the last four years.  She highlighted the problems of violence towards women and girls.  She was aware that people stayed in abusive relationships due to fears about housing and other issues.  Councillor Phillips felt that there was a vacuum in some of the agencies listed in the report.  She suggested that the Survivors’ Network and the Women’s Centre should be contacted.   The Chair confirmed that the Women’s Centre had been consulted about the strategy.

9.14    The Service Improvement Manager Housing Options mentioned that officers had worked with Inspire.  He asked members to adopt the strategy and stressed that officers would continue to talk with all the relevant groups.  In the meanwhile, there was a very good housing and domestic violence working group that was looking at these issues.

9.15    RESOLVED -   (1)    That the Homelessness Strategy 2014-2019 be adopted.