Agenda item

RECOMMENDATION:

That the Policy Committee reviews and provides comments on the options available to address predicted homelessness demand and that they will be subject to consultation before agreement at Cabinet Committee: Housing.

Councillor Chris Westwood, Cabinet Member for Housing introduced the report, ref EHP48 which set out proposals for the “Accommodation Strategy for Homeless Households”, (available here). The introduction included the following points.

1. He highlighted the national increase in homelessness, with councils in England spending £1.7 billion annually on temporary housing.
2. That Hampshire County Council's spending review to save £132 million, would affect social inclusion services in the district.
3. That Winchester City Council was committed to preventing and relieving homelessness through partnerships with organisations like Trinity and the Winchester Beacon.
4. The district's efficient use of housing stock to keep bed and breakfast usage low, amidst concerns over rising homelessness and potential funding cuts.
5. The report aimed to assess the projected level of homelessness in the district and explore options for managing this growth and its financial impact on the Council.

Karen Thorburn, Service Lead - Strategic Housing provided the committee with an update which included the following:

1. She highlighted the projections based on past and future demands for temporary accommodation, as shown in Appendix 2 of the report.
2. That without adopting new strategies or exploring alternatives, the shortfall in bed spaces could reach 139, significantly impacting both the council's finances and individuals facing homelessness.
3. That the potential financial burden of emergency accommodation was discussed, with costs ranging from just under £80,000 for short stays to nearly half a million pounds for longer stays in bed and breakfast accommodation.
4. Several options were presented to bridge the gap, including the potential management changes of Sussex St to provide additional bed spaces, and revising the move-on policy to accelerate the transition of households from temporary accommodation.
5. Other strategies included support for Trinity to convert spaces for additional accommodation, reviewing the letting strategy for sheltered accommodation, and utilising Eastacre for shared temporary accommodation.
6. The report also considered the financial and operational implications of each option and outlined the next steps, including responding to budget consultations and revising policies to manage the costs of emergency accommodation.
7. The importance of stakeholder and resident consultations as part of a comprehensive strategy to address homelessness, and that the intention was to present a full accommodation strategy to the Cabinet Committee: Housing later this year.

Tony Goldsby, on behalf of Trinity, addressed the committee and highlighted the following points.

1. That the closure of key support facilities, Westview and Sussex St. was regretted.
2. He wanted to commit to overcoming the challenges posed by these closures and supported the strategies outlined by the report.
3. That Trinity wished to expand its provision of quality housing with comprehensive support services, emphasising the critical role of support in successful housing and community integration.
4. He referred to the introduction of a project which aimed to establish emergency overnight rooms and was currently seeking planning approval to provide immediate relief to the issues discussed.
5. He advised of efforts to secure additional accommodation through land donations, working in collaboration with local authorities and stakeholders.
6. He stressed the importance of an integrated approach with local charities, shelter workers, and Winchester City Council to enable change and address these issues with holistic support services.

Tracy Jones, on behalf of the Winchester Beacon, addressed the committee and highlighted the following points.

1. She referred to the Beacon's support for the housing team's efforts despite limited resources and the adverse impact of Hampshire County Council's spending review.
2. She referred to the introduction of a resettlement coach to aid residents' transition to permanent housing, emphasising the importance of sustained support to prevent a return to homelessness.
3. She advised of plans to expand the Beacon's support by providing additional beds and associated services, highlighting the efficiency of smaller support units in managing local impact and antisocial behaviour.
4. She acknowledged the crucial role of volunteers in supplementing the charity's efforts and reducing costs for both the charity and the council.
5. She appealed for a collaborative and integrated approach to explore beyond the outlined options, emphasising the need for broader stakeholder engagement in addressing homelessness and support services.

The Chairperson thanked Tony Goldsby and Tracy Jones for their contributions and expressed appreciation for the contributions of the Winchester Beacon, Trinity and Emmaus in supporting Winchester City Council's efforts to address homelessness and temporary accommodation challenges.

He also advised of an additional representation in the form of a petition from residents near Milford House and a letter from Mr Terry Butler a close neighbour to the scheme, which the officer team had received and would address during the consultation.

The committee was asked to review and provide comments on the options available to address predicted homelessness demand, noting that these will be subject to consultation before agreement at Cabinet Committee: Housing.

The committee proceeded to ask questions and debate the report. In summary, the following matters were raised.

1. Clarification was sought regarding the potential for sharing responsibilities to alleviate the burden on the proposed additional staff member and to increase the resilience of the service.
2. Understanding the typical occupancy rates of temporary accommodation facilities and how these aligned with demand and availability.
3. Evaluating the potential impacts of the proposed options on the council's ability to effectively address homelessness, considering the balance between available resources, and increasing needs for accommodation and support services.
4. Understanding the contributions of partner charities and other organisations in expanding accommodation and support services for homeless individuals and families, and whether additional collaborations could enhance the district's capacity.
5. Questions were raised to understand more about the comprehensive support services ("wrap-around services") necessary beyond just providing accommodation, which aimed to support individuals on their journey towards sustaining tenancies.
6. Clarification regarding the financial implications of the proposed strategies, specifically about anticipated funding reductions and the potential necessity of utilising reserves to bridge gaps in service provision.
7. The committee sought an understanding of managing expectations and communications with residents currently on the waiting list for accommodation, in the context of potential policy changes affecting their queue positions.
8. Understanding the sustainability of funding for homelessness services through grants and reserves, with a particular interest in how these resources would support the proposed options and initiatives amidst financial uncertainties.

These points were responded to by Karen Thorburn, Service Lead, Strategic Housing, Simon Hendey, Strategic Director and Councillor Westwood, Cabinet Member for Housing accordingly.

RESOLVED:

The committee:

1.    Noted the increasing issue of homelessness and the associated issues raised.

2.    Thanked Trinity, the Winchester Beacon and Emmaus for their contributions to addressing homelessness in Winchester.

3.    Thanked the officer team for their work in this area and anticipated further reports to be brought back for discussion.

4.    Asked that the cabinet member consider the committee's comments raised during the discussion of the item.