Issue - meetings

To consider the head of housing and environment’s report. 

Cabinet considered the head of housing and environment’s report on the homelessness and rough sleeping strategy.  The strategy was reviewed periodically.  This year, it included reducing rough sleeping, a government requirement. 

The Cabinet member for housing reported on the work undertaken to develop the document.  The strategy had three aims, to:

·         prevent homelessness whenever possible

·         end incidents of homelessness at the earliest opportunity

·         end the need for rough sleeping

To achieve these aims the strategy had five objectives, to:

·         improve county-wide partnership working to prevent and reduce homelessness 

·         minimise the use of temporary accommodation 

·         further develop our housing needs service to prevent and relieve homelessness at the earliest opportunity  

·         improve access to emergency accommodation and increase support for rough sleepers 

·         improve access to sustainable accommodation for households who are either at risk of homelessness or who are homeless 

The Cabinet member pointed to the consultation results: 83 per cent had strongly supported the strategy.  Scrutiny Committee had also considered the draft strategy and given its support also. 

Cabinet welcomed the strategy and thanked officers for their work.  Cabinet concluded that the council had a strong track record in the prevention and reduction of homelessness.  The homelessness and rough sleeping strategy would build on this success by continuing to drive down homelessness and rough sleeping in the district.  Many elements of the new strategy were already in place and had stood up well during the council’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic.  The latest figures for the district were low.  The benefits of working with other councils and agencies across Oxfordshire during the past few months had proven that strategy was effective.  Councillors also welcomed the aim to bring empty homes back into use.  Officers were asked to update the data before publishing the strategy. 

RESOLVED: to adopt the homelessness and rough sleeping strategy, as set out in the head of housing and environment’s report to Cabinet on 9 July 2020, subject to the head of housing and environment updating the data within.