Agenda item

To consider the report of the head of housing and environment attached.

The committee considered the head of housing and environment’s report on the draft homelessness and rough sleeping strategy 2020 to 2025.  The strategy was the subject of public consultation which had resulted in 198 responses. The Scrutiny Committee was asked to feed its views back to officers and the Cabinet member. 

The Homelessness Act 2002 required the council to review its strategy every five years.  The current joint homelessness strategy with Vale of White Horse  District Council would expire in September 2020.  As part of this review, officers had taken into account the government’s intention to half rough sleeping by 2022 and eradicate it by 2027.  The addition of ‘tackling rough sleeping’ was the biggest difference compared to the current homelessness strategy.  The strategy and action plan must be submitted to the government for approval. 

Councillor David Rouane, Cabinet member for housing and environment, reported that although homelessness and rough sleepers had increased nationwide, this was not reflected in South Oxfordshire.  He congratulated the previous administration on the good work undertaken in this area. In 2018/19 alone, the council had assisted 495 households at risk of homelessness.  The number of households in temporary accommodation had also fallen, and the number of rough sleepers recorded in South Oxfordshire in November 2018 was three.  Against benchmark authorities, South Oxfordshire’s figures were very low. 

The council had adopted a preventative approach rather than reactive.  This was continued in the draft strategy, which had the following aims:

·         To prevent homelessness whenever possible

·         To end incidents of homelessness at the earliest opportunity

·         To end the need for rough sleeping

To achieve these aims, the strategy had five objectives:

1.    To improve county-wide partnership working to prevent and reduce homelessness

2.    To minimise the use of temporary accommodation

3.    To further develop the council’s housing needs service to prevent and relieve homelessness at the earliest opportunity

4.    To improve access to emergency accommodation and increase support for rough sleepers

5.    To improve access to sustainable accommodation for households that are either at risk of homelessness or who are homeless

Officers reported that they worked in close collaboration with partner councils and organisations.  The council relied on these partnerships for its success.  Officers did not use a gatekeeping approach, rather households at risk of homelessness were encouraged to approach the council at the earliest opportunity, as early intervention was a key ingredient in preventing homelessness.  A range of solutions were available to suit differing circumstances.  The portfolio of options was set out in the strategy. 

The new strategy had a bigger focus on tackling rough sleeping.  Officers intended to increase both the housing and support available for rough sleepers, including a Housing First model, that provided accommodation together with support for rough sleepers.  Officers were investigating the possibility of a Housing First project in South Oxfordshire. 

The committee supported the aims and objectives of the draft strategy and reviewed the action plan.  The success of the strategy would be measured against key performance indicators and targets, which would be set annually.  The strategy would also be reviewed annually, and the findings published on the council’s website. 

In response to questions officers advised that South Oxfordshire District Council did not own a temporary housing stock following the housing transfer, but this may be addressed as part of the corporate plan work and the property asset review. However, the council had agreements in place with SOHA and Vale of White Horse District Council to meet the need. Officers worked with armed forces personnel in advance of them leaving the armed forces to provide housing advice and support. Details of the housing register were available on request from officers.

Councillors suggested that the strategy should reference that the council will treat people suffering from homelessness with respect, how the council would prioritise help for victims of domestic abuse, include details of any winter shelter provision (if approved), reference the specific support available for young women rough sleepers and the needs of young adults (18-24 year olds) and include details of animal sanctuaries to care for the pets of the homeless. 

The committee also noted that officers would be publishing a guide on how to help homeless people for councillors and suggested that a similar guide should be published on the council’s website for members of the public to access. 

The committee noted that following the consultation period, the final strategy would be submitted to Cabinet for approval on 30 January 2020. 

RESOLVED: to

1.    welcome the draft homelessness and rough sleeping strategy 2020 to 2025; and

2.    ask officers to publish a guide on the council’s website setting out how members of the public could assist the homeless 

3.    recommend the Cabinet member for housing and environment and officers to consider the following suggestions to further improve the draft strategy before submitting it to Cabinet for adoption:

·         reference how the council will treat the homeless with respect;

·         include details of any winter shelter programme the council provides;

·         set out how the council will prioritise help for the victims of domestic abuse;

·         set out the specific needs and support available to young women rough sleepers and young adults (18-24 year olds);

·         include details of animal shelters to care for the pets of the homeless