Homelessness Strategy Stakeholder Day

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Homelessness Strategy Stakeholder Day Wednesday
28th May 2008
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House Keeping

• Toilets
• Emergency exits
• Fire Alarms
• Mobile phones
• Breaks/Refreshments

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Introductions

• Chris Ferns
• Development Manager
• Neighbourhood Services

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Introductions

• Introduce yourself to the other people around the
  table

5
Launching the new strategy

• Councillor Fielding
• Executive Member
• Neighbourhoods and Housing

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Developments

• Homelessness Strategy Approved and Published
  (ahead of schedule)
• Temporary Accommodation Target is in the top 35
  National Indicators in the Local Area Agreement -
  therefore homelessness will remain high on
  everyones agenda
• Stock transfer is complete (mechanism and funding
  in place to redesign temporary accommodation for
  families)

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Developments

• Allocations Review is complete (going through
  approval process presentation later this
  morning)
• MDAC Nearly Complete
• Mediation scheme up and running

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Introductions

• Rob Farnos
• Divisional Manager
• Housing Strategy and Investment Unit

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Tackling Homelessness, Overcrowding
Worklessness

• Neil Morland Specialist Advisor

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Reduce the number of households in temporary
accommodation by half by 2010 compared to levels
in use at December 2004
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Reduce the number of households in temporary
accommodation by half by 2010, compared to levels
in use at December 2004

• Prevent Homelessness
• Joint working with housing associations
• Maximise the potential of the private
• rented sector
• Smarter use of temporary
• accommodation

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End the use of bed and breakfast accommodation
for all homeless 16/17 year olds by 2010

•  

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End the use of bed and breakfast accommodation
for all homeless 16/17 year olds by 2010

• Joint working protocols with children's services
• Early intervention and prevention services
• Pathways into accommodation
• Meet wider support needs

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Rough sleeping 10 years on From the streets to
independent living and opportunity
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Rough sleeping 10 years on From the streets to
independent living and opportunity

• Further reduce the numbers on the streets
• A better future for rough sleepers
• Effective delivery of local strategy
• Better information

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Tackling Overcrowding
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Tackling Overcrowding

• Securing better deals with private rented sector
• Making better use of allocations framework to
  give greater priority
• to under-occupiers
• Targeted support to under-occupiers
• Giving greater priority to severely overcrowded
  households
• Joint working with RSLs
• Supporting adult children of overcrowded
  households

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Enhanced housing options approach
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Enhanced housing options approach

• Meeting needs with a wider range of
• choice
• Using stock more efficiently
• Tackling worklessness
• Improving customer service

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Home Ownership Advice Right-to-buy
LCHO options (Key Worker Schemes
Social HomeBuy Staircasing) Mortgage
advice Leaseholder advice (Right to Manage
Service Charges Repairs
Purchasing Freehold) HIPs
Equity Release
Needs-Based Advice Registration for Social
Housing Homelessness assessment/ prevention
CBL TA
Hostels
Debt and Worklessness income maximisation
negotiation with creditors Court
Advocacy Services Promotion of
employment/training opportunities
Better-off-in-work calculations
In-work housing benefit
Debt advice
Grants and Loans Advice Home Improvement
Handypersons services Home Safety work
Disabled Facilities Grant HECA/Energy
efficiency schemes Empty property grants
PRS/ Private Sector Accreditation Illegal
eviction Harassment Decent Homes Health
Safety Student Housing Rent Deposit Schemes
Charitable lettings agencies
Tenancy Deposit Schemes
Advice
Supporting Services JobSeekerDirect skills
and training services healthcare elderly
persons care and accommodation services overcrowd
ing and mobility housing options schemes
HOUSING OPTIONS SERVICE
Service
Want to Apply for Social Housing
Currently In Social Housing
In Private Rented Sector
On Housing Register
Owner Occupying
Currently Homeless
Situation
Social Sector
Private Sector
Homeless/TA
Sector
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Homelessness Strategy 2008/11Anne DoyleInterim
Homelessness Strategy Co-ordinator
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Homelessness Strategy 2008/11

• Complete
• Approved
• Published
• Work has began

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Homelessness Strategy 2008/11

• Total of 94 actions (3 actions have been added to
  it since publication and approval)
• 12 are complete already (11)
• 4 of these were completed ahead of schedule

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Homelessness Strategy Examples of complete
actions

• RSLs have appointed homelessness champions
• Pilot complex needs panel
• Cold weather provision
• Rough Sleepers count

• Pilot mediation scheme
• Domestic violence initiatives
• Pre tenancy training
• Allocations actions
• Mystery Shopping exercise

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Homelessness Strategy 2008/11

• 11 actions are behind schedule (mainly
  associated with LCC service review)

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Snapshot of current situation

• Homelessness in Liverpool is still decreasing
  in line with national trends

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Liverpool Homelessness Decisions 2002/03 to
2007/08
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Liverpool Acceptances 2000/01 to 2007/08
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Snapshot of current situation

• April 08 rough sleepers count showed a slight
  increase

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Rough Sleeping in Liverpool 1998 to 2008
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Snapshot of current situation

• Use of temporary accommodation is generally
  reducing but much is still to be done to reach
  the 2010 target

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Numbers in Temporary Accommodation
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• Views of our service from the outside

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Views of our service from the outside service
users views

• Consultation was carried out with service users
  in March 08

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Views of our service from the outside service
users views

• Service users thought they did not get the right
  information, or enough information at the time of
  need
• Service users want the people giving advice and
  information to be positive and well informed

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Views of our service from the outside service
users views

• Information should be available 24/7
• The homeless team are efficient but
  inconsistently so
• Smaller hostels with specialised provision would
  be more effective

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Views of our service from the outside service
users views

• Service users showed interest in helping to train
  and recruit staff in temporary accommodation
• Would like some ex service users working with
  homeless people

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Views of our service from the outside Mystery
Shopping

• A mystery shopping exercise was carried out by
  five Merseyside Local Authorities in December 07
  and January 08

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Views of our service from the outside mystery
shopping

• Training issues were identified with Liverpool
  Direct recognising homelessness and domestic
  violence
• Some areas of the service were considered very
  good

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Views of our service from the outside mystery
shopping

• Some areas of the service were not so good
• Training issues were identified re customer care
  and certain areas of the legislation (people from
  abroad)

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• New initiatives

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New initiatives

• Shelter Multi Agency Monitoring on a Merseyside
  wide basis to gain factual information on the
  wider homelessness population
• Mediation Scheme for young people

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Developments in PreventionSandra
AlexanderPrevention Development Officer
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HOUSING OPTIONS SERVICE
Introduction
Housing options service
What is a housing options service?
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HOUSING OPTIONS SERVICE
Results of Pilot
Range of Services
Realistic Solutions/Outcomes
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HOUSING OPTIONS SERVICE
EARLY INTERVENTION
EARLY INTERVENTION
EARLY INTERVENTION
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Tea and Coffee Break
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Local Developments in dealing with people with
complex needsJulie PrendergastThe Whitechapel
Centre
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Context
A response to the needs of entrenched rough
sleepers or those at risk of rough sleeping, for
whom the usual routes out of homelessness are
unavailable and who require long-term and lasting
solutions Whitechapel are currently acting as
panel co-ordinators
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The panel is for

• People multiply excluded from hostels or lack the
  ability to access hostels
• Demonstrate chaotic behaviour
• Pose a risk to self through neglect or a nuisance
  to others through their behaviour

.
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The panel is for

• Who require support around drugs, alcohol, mental
  or physical health (or a combination)
• Who do the rounds repeatedly present as
  homeless
• People who are willing to engage and are looking
  to make changes in their lives

.
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What the panel is not for
.

• People requiring emergency solutions
• People who with regular case working and support
  can be helped to access hostels/detox rehab etc

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Who sits on the panel and how does it work?
Representatives from
.

• Drug Dependency Unit
• Social Services
• Whitechapel Centre
• The Basement
• Anne Fowler Hostel

• Direct Access Centre Manager
• Mental Health services
• Social Services Drug Alcohol

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Process

• Panel meets monthly
• Complete in-depth referral form asks the
  referrer to state what package of support they
  feel would benefit client
• Ask that referral form is signed off by a manager
  within an agency to ensure appropriate referrals

.
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Process

• Panel members see referral information prior to
  meeting, can gather own agency info and ready to
  bring solutions to the meeting
• Other specialist workers/agencies can be invited
  if appropriate (e.g health, probation)
• Referrer presents to panel knows the client
  best, will know what might work and what wont

.
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Process

• Panel agree set of tasks, make offers of
  accommodation, facilitate fast-tracking or
  co-ordination of detox/rehab
• Panel is accountable to single homeless consortium

.
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Why does the approach work?

• Flexibility and realism about clients ability to
  fit in with usual referral methods or agency
  criteria
• Preparation meeting is not a talking shop.
  Agency representatives are coming to the table
  with solutions
• Package of support can be agreed there and then
  less delays for client once panel has met

.
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How can you get involved?

• For further information, an electronic version
  of the referral form, or an informal chat about a
  particular referral contact
• Julie Prendergast at the Whitechapel Centre
• Telephone [phone]
• Email julie.pendergast_at_whitechapelcentre.co.uk

.
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Review of the Allocation PolicyRob
FarnosDivisional ManagerHousing Strategy and
InvestmentCommunity Services28th May 2008
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Background

• Allocations Policy introduced in January 2004
• Councils response to Homelessness Act 2002 and
  Code of Guidance
• Introduction of Choice Based Lettings
  Propertypool - May 2004
• Stock Transfer
• Legal and Strategic responsibilities

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Considerations for the review

• Statutory and legislative requirements
• Facilitate effective management of the waiting
  list
• Equality and Diversity implications
• The principles for good customer care and
  effective communication
• The criteria for an excellent service
• Preparation for arrangements after stock transfer

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Consultation-

• A series of telephone and face-to-face interviews
• Focus groups with a range of staff and partners
• Formal consultation with staff and partners
• Consultation with elected members
• Nominations Agreements made with key partners

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Recommendations

• Establishing targets for each re-housing band
• Reduction in number of bands (can have sub-bands)
• System of granting priority additional priority
• Reflect medical factors
• Criteria about what is considered a reasonable
  refusal
• Criteria on the application of age restrictions
• Revise method for determining overcrowding
• Robust collection of data
• Further investigation on Equality and Diversity
  issues

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Proposal

• Reduce number of bands from 6 to 4
• Urgent Priority
• Decant
• Statutory Homeless
• Health and Welfare (Life at Risk)
• High Priority
• Urgent Health/Welfare
• Overcrowded
• Non-priority homeless
• High level of disrepair

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Proposal cont.,

• Medium Priority
• Medium/low Health/Welfare
• Family/Friends
• Low Priority
• General (no housing need)
• Low priority (e.g. former tenant arrears)

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Targets for 2008/2009

• Band Sub Band Target
• Urgent 54
• Statutory Homeless 34
• Decant (CWOP) 18
• Life at Risk 2
• High 32
• Urgent Health/Welfare 15
• Overcrowded 9
• Non Priority Homeless 10
• High level Disrepair 7
• Medium 11
• Medium/Low Health/Welfare 5
• Family/Friends 6
• Low 3
• General 3
• Low 0

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Next Steps

• Formal adoption of new policy
• Allocation of existing applicants into new bands
• Upgrades to system and training
• Full implementation
• Ongoing review e.g. target levels and medical
  priority system

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Implications for homelessness

• High target levels for homeless re-housing
  sub-band
• Also priority given for needs that might lead to
  homelessness
• Revised criteria for reasonable offer
• Sharing information about applicants
• Suspension policy
• All target levels subject to review

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Table Exercise
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How will the changes in the Allocations Policy
impact upon your service?What else would make a
difference?
Table Exercise
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• NEXT STEPS
• Chris Ferns
• Development Manager

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• Summary and Conclusions
• Your involvement as Stakeholders is not
  restricted to these stakeholder days we are
  always open to suggestions and comments at any
  stage in this work and you can contact us via
  email anne.doyle_at_liverpool.gov.uk

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LUNCH