Agenda item

To consider a report of the Director of Communities and the Director of HR, Performance and Communications (Item 5 attached) on Homelessness in Barnsley.           

The Chair welcomed the following witnesses to the meeting:

 

• Wendy Lowder, Executive Director of Communities, BMBC
• Michelle Kaye, Service Manager - Housing and Welfare, BMBC
• Ruth Newton-Scott, Housing Options Team Leader, BMBC
• Diane Lee, Head of Public Health, BMBC
• Councillor Jenny Platts, Cabinet Member for Communities

 

Michelle Kaye advised the committee that nationally there has been an increase in the number of people who are homeless; according to Shelter, since 2010 there has been a 33% rise. Similarly, there has been an increase in those who are rough sleeping; as of January 2017 there has been a 16% increase on the previous year. In Barnsley there are 6 Housing Advisors whose priority is homelessness prevention. Support for this is needed from both members of the community as well as partners to alert the service as to when someone may be at risk of homelessness.

 

If someone is at risk of homelessness an in-depth assessment is made, which will determine if the Local Authority has a homeless duty to them or will provide them with comprehensive housing advice. In either situation the service goes above and beyond their legal obligation to provide support to try and prevent or resolve homelessness. In Barnsley the number of applications from those who consider they are at risk of becoming homeless has fallen from a high of 658 in 2009/10 to 201 in 2015/16; this corresponds with the prevention figures increasing over the same time period from 85 to 619.

 

In Barnsley the predominant group approaching for assistance is single people, a number of whom have  complex and enduring needs. Support is available for families from a range of sources including Family Centres. In Barnsley, we have recently seen an increase in single females approaching the service for support. There is an officer in post who engages with rough sleepers as soon as the service is made aware of them, however for some individuals it is a lifestyle choice.  There needs to be a clear distinction between those who are seen begging/rough sleeping as not all of these are homeless, but support will still be offered through the outreach worker.

 

Members proceeded to ask the following questions:

 

1. If the service was able to do even earlier intervention work, to what extent would this enable the service to be even more effective in preventing homelessness?

 

Members were advised analysis has shown that the earlier the intervention, the more likely it is that homelessness is prevented. For example, the service needs to re-establish its links with the probation service to ensure those leaving prison have accommodation on release. Between 2016 and January 17, 23 single males were discharged from prison with no fixed abode. The service has therefore written to the senior officers in the CRC (Community Rehabilitation Company) and National Probation Service to ensure this is addressed and is able to work in partnership with other agencies. The service has also seen an increase in the number of young people presenting as homeless however there is now a joined up approach to managing this with Children’s Services.

 

2. At what sub-regional level has the Rough Sleepers Grant been awarded?

 

The committee were advised the service was keen to bid for this financial assistance, enabling work to be done with the 4 South Yorkshire Authorities, to look at innovative ways to support entrenched rough sleepers and those with complex needs. This starts from April 2017 with a financial investment of £400k over 2 years to be shared between the four authorities.

 

3. How will you ensure contact is made with those families who are hard to reach as they believe they are resilient, therefore won’t access the support available even though they need to?

 

The group were advised there are a number of pressures on families, including welfare reforms, insecure employment, and poverty etc. Concerns around housing need to be raised at the earliest opportunity through partners such as health visitors, housing officers and other professionals visiting properties and noticing that ‘something isn’t right’. The service is predominately focussed on Housing Advice and so would encourages people to engage with the service as soon as possible.

 

4. There has been a suggestion those who are under 21 years of age will not be able to claim Housing Benefit any longer; do you think this will lead to an increase in homelessness for this age range?

 

Members were advised this is an area for concern. A number of people aged 16-21 currently access the service and it works in partnership with Children’s Social Care services. New regulations are due to come into force where 18-21 year olds will be unable to claim housing benefit. There are some exemptions such as care leavers; however it will put pressure on the service in finding accommodation for this group.

 

5. We have a number of families on low incomes and are at risk of losing their home but are not currently visited by any support services; how do we engage with these families?

 

The committee were advised there is a Local Welfare Assistance Team who deal with families in crisis and can refer to food banks. The service can also refer people to other services such as those commissioned by Area Councils. If a family returns to a food bank for a third time, the service will look at how it can support them as this indicates they are likely to be in need and may be at risk of homelessness. In terms of trying to reach these families we need to ensure our services are widely advertised and link more into places like schools and GPs to try and encourage referrals to the team.

 

6. How effective are the Community Rehabilitation Company (CRC)?

 

The group were advised these were introduced following the dismantling of the probation service, and their remit is to supervise low and medium risk offenders.  Although it has taken time for them to adjust to their role, they are working hard to link in with local services. The Police Crime Commissioner has oversight of their services.

 

7. How effective are Foundation Housing?

 

Members were advised currently the Council, Citizen’s Advice Bureau (CAB) and

Foundation Housing provide quarterly homeless prevention figures to the government. From April next year the service is hoping to gather more information about the amount of prevention activity taking place.

 

8. Has there been an impact following the reduction in the CAB budget?

 

The committee were advised the service has undertaken proactive discussions with CAB regarding their reduced budget, working relationships and avoiding duplication. Area Councils are also commissioning service from CAB.

 

9. There have been incidents with tenants in privately rented properties who have contacted their landlord for improvements to be made, then are subsequently threatened with eviction; is this something the service is aware of?

 

The group were advised the service has been contacted by people who have experienced this, however legislation has now been put in place to try to prevent this, it is referred to as retaliatory evictions. The difficulty is sometimes in getting enough evidence to take this forward. Therefore the service works closely with Regulatory Services and Community Safety teams to gather intelligence. As a service we have and will undertake legal proceedings against illegal evictions.

 

10. Following the service moving to the Safer Communities Business Unit and part of the Public Service Hub (PSH) will this affect front door access to services?

 

Members were advised the move to the PSH will not change front line access as this will still be based in the Civic. The new structure makes more sense so that this service is located with other operational services such as the police and other key operational partners.

 

11. What is the eligibility criteria for homelessness?

 

If someone accesses the service, they are assessed based on five criteria. As a result of this they would either be eligible for homelessness support, they may be given priority need in terms of housing and the service may need to provide them with temporary accommodation. If someone was found to be intentionally homeless, for example they had knowingly not paid their rent, then the service would only be required to provide them with accommodation for a reasonable period.

The Homelessness Reduction Bill is currently going through Parliament which would change how priority need is assessed and means the service will need additional resources to respond to this. It will also ensure that a more proactive approach is taken to homeless prevention, by taking homeless applications at 56 days rather than the current 28 days. Barnsley has temporary accommodation for families in the borough but only a small amount for single people.

 

12. Does the service work closely with the Probation Service, to ensure homeless prevention measures are in place, also is work done for care leavers and those leaving the armed forces?

 

The committee were advised accommodation and support following discharge from prison is not currently joined up as well as it could be, hence the letter which has been sent from BMBC. The service manager is on the armed forces covenant group and the service also asks people if they have been in the armed forces as it helps the service access support for them. Periodically, the service uses out of area bed and breakfast accommodation in Sheffield, although whenever possible these are not used and work is continuing to minimise this. The service has 1 crash pad for young people and is looking to continue to develop provision.

 

13. Does the service work with Holden House?

 

The group were advised Holden House is one of the commissioned services the service uses. It is often full, therefore the service is looking at how it can utilise this resource better. A new specification has been drawn up to deliver services at this location so that it is able to deal with those with multiple and complex needs. This should also help the service avoid having to use other accommodation in Sheffield.

 

14. How effective is the integrated working and sharing of intelligence between different teams and agencies, or is it a ‘one stop shop’?

 

Members were advised the integrated working is getting much better. The service works with a range of key partners to provide support and accommodation. These partners include social care, landlords, public health, mental health, substance misuse, domestic violence and the voluntary sector. The move to the Public Service Hub will ensure more opportunities for integrated working. The service manager is currently devising a presentation to go to all relevant partners so they understand what the service can offer and where to refer to. For example, this will be shared with private sector businesses in the town centre to raise awareness.

 

15. There are people visible in the town centre that are begging but present themselves as being homeless; what is being done to address this?

 

The committee were advised the service has an outreach worker who liaises with those identified as rough sleepers and beggars. They are able to check systems for information, identify where there may be issues such as housing benefit, and provide support. The service is also working with partners such as the police to move people on where appropriate.

 

16. Can you provide information on the supported accommodation on the periphery of the town centre?

 

The group were advised the CRC subcontracts to NACRO who look after a number of low and medium supported accommodation properties in Barnsley. The Council has written to NACRO so it can better understand their offer and how it can work with them to support clients.  There was some suggestion that this property could belong to NACRO but this has yet to be confirmed.

 

17. It is concerning to hear that NACRO are not engaging with the Council, particularly as local residents are concerned about these properties?

 

Members were advised that the service is aware of the changes which CRCs have gone through and the complexity of service provision. The service is trying to engage with them, however highlighted that problems such as this arise when you have nationally commissioned services which don’t understand the local area or undertake dialogue with local services.

 

18. What is done when rough sleepers won’t engage with support services?

 

Members were advised the service is very persistent in trying to engage with rough sleepers. The outreach worker goes to engage with them every day if needed, even though they will regularly not engage. Recently the service engaged with an individual who had been rough sleeping for some time but has now engaged with services and has a tenancy; therefore this is used as a positive example to others.

 

The service has provision to invoke cold weather protocols when the temperature is due to be 0° or below on any one night. Nationally, this is only invoked after 3 consecutive nights at 0°. The service’s protocols will provide a bed for the night and an opportunity to engage with support services. Barnsley Churches Project offers a hot meal 3 times per week and the service also has a food voucher scheme it operates with a local provider.

 

19. How will the newly commissioned services ensure they record contacts with clients, for example recording where a support worker has attempted to engage with someone, however they have refused to open the door to them?

 

The committee were advised the commissioned service is expected to record and monitor their contact with all clients, which will include evidencing what has been done to try to move clients on, such as from Holden House. Once the Homelessness Reduction Bill comes in, a personal support plan will need to be kept for every client.

 

20. What is done when people move into a community?

 

The group were advised the service monitors all clients who have transferred into accommodation, for example so the service can continue to support those with complex needs. A number of clients have managed moves rather than going through the eviction process. There is also floating/resettlement available.

 

21. What is the service’s relationship like with Action Housing?

 

Members were advised Action Housing is the current commissioned provider; however a new provider will be in place from April 2017.  This service will offer support for those with multiple and complex needs. Work is currently being undertaken to ensure a smooth transition between providers.

 

22. When undertaking the Roadshows to promote what the service is able to offer, will work be done with Barnsley Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) to take this out to GPs also it would be helpful to have an All Member Information Briefing on this? 

 

The group were advised the service will take these comments on board and also advised that they have plans in place to work with the new social prescribing contract.

 

The Chair thanked the witnesses for their attendance and valuable contribution and declared the meeting closed.

 

 

 

Action Points

 

1. The 0-19 service to either provide an update report or attend a future meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee during early 2018 following the implementation of the new model.     
2. The 0-19 service to look at support for those aged 16-19 and how this can be increased.
3. When undertaking roadshows, the Housing Options Team should engage with GP surgeries as well as undertake an All Member Information Briefing to raise awareness of available support services.