Issue - meetings

[Report of the Director of Housing and Growth. To be introduced by the Cabinet Member for Housing, Regeneration and Planning.] This report sets out the new Homelessness Strategy which has been developed following that consultation and subsequent further work with the Homelessness Forum. This new strategy sits alongside a new Rough Sleeping Strategy.

The Cabinet Member for Housing, Regeneration and Planning introduced the report, which set out the new Homelessness Strategy, meeting a strategic objective of the Housing strategy, which was to “Improve support and help to prevent homelessness”.

The strategy aimed to reduce the financial and human costs of homelessness  through intervening earlier to prevent homelessness, increasing the supply of accommodation available and meeting the needs of those already in Temporary Accommodation.

The draft Homelessness Strategy had been developed collaboratively with partners across the borough including statutory service providers, voluntary and community organisations, and people using our services. Officers would continue working closely with these groups and individuals to develop the strategic delivery plan. 

RESOLVED

1. To note the Equalities Impact Assessment at Appendix 2

2. To approve the draft Homelessness Strategy set out in Appendix 1, and, in particular, the priorities of the strategy which are as follows:

        (a)        Intervening earlier to prevent homelessness (as set out in section 7.1)

        (b)        Increasing the supply of accommodation available (as set out in section    7.2)

(c)Meeting the needs of those already in temporary accommodation (as set out in section 7.3)

Reasons for decision

Homelessness in Haringey remains a persistent challenge, with the second highest level of homelessness in the country. A radically different approach that drives whole systems change is necessary. Haringey needs a new culture for dealing with homelessness; rooted in honesty about what is and is not possible and based on finding solutions and offering support.

The shared strategic vision and priorities set out in the Homelessness Strategy will guide our homelessness prevention and relief activities with partners and our communities over the coming years. This strategy is necessary to ensure our approach is appropriate, co-ordinated and that we are held to account on delivery.

The recommendation in 3.1 is to ensure the Council has met its duties under the Equality Act 2010.

The recommendation in 3.2 is to ensure that the Council meets its statutory duty to carry out a homelessness review and publish a Homelessness Strategy. The Council published its last Homelessness Strategy in 2012.

Alternative options considered

Not to produce a Homelessness Strategy. The Council would be failing in its statutory obligations if it failed to produce an up to date Homelessness Strategy. The lack of a strategy would also render the council less effective in setting out its strategic approach to tackling homelessness and would make partnership working more difficult without a clear agreed direction.

Alternative priorities within the Homelessness Strategy were considered and discounted:

• A ‘Gatekeeping’ approach to homelessness. By making it harder for people to get help from the council, numbers in temporary accommodation could be minimised. This option was discounted as it does not reflect the new statutory framework of the Homelessness Reduction Act and the wider focus on prevention set out in the Council’s Corporate Plan.
• A focus on moving significantly more households out of London. Whilst this option may need to be reviewed in future, it is currently not deemed to be in the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 198