Agenda item

This report sets out the most recent information on demand for these services and provides reassurance that the responses currently in place are good and that there are new initiatives planned to further improve the offer.

The Team Manager for Housing Options and Homelessness introduced this item to the Panel. He said that the report covered the Council’s statutory duties and its approach to rough sleepers.

He explained that the Housing Options Team is the Council’s frontline service for people at risk of homelessness and for those who are already homeless. He added that team provides specialist advice and assistance and has access to a number of practical options and resources to prevent homelessness.

He stated that 16 households were currently in temporary accommodation which was a very low figure when compared to other local authorities and that the Council very rarely needed to use bed and breakfast accommodation.

He said that the Council and other local partners provide services, including health, welfare, housing and employment services to help rough sleepers make a transition into safer and healthier lives.

He informed them that the number of rough sleepers in the area is estimated every autumn in accordance with best practice. In 2014 it was estimated that there were 27 people sleeping rough on a single night in Bath and North East Somerset (one in three did not have a local connection with the area). The previous year the estimate was 33 and in 2012 the estimate was 22 so the position has remained relatively similar over the last three years.

He explained that Julian House provides the direct access hostel in Bath and that it is usually fully occupied and that the move-on provision rarely has a void bed for more than one or two nights. He added that the hostel is one of only six direct access hostels in the region; the others are located in Bristol, Yeovil, Taunton, Bournemouth and Winchester and it attracts rough sleepers from the surrounding areas.

He stated that newly-arrived rough sleepers without any local connection are reconnected to their home area when it is safe and reasonable to do so. This ensures that accommodation available in their home town is not lost and that vital support services are maintained. Rough sleepers can decline a reconnection which ends their entitlement to local services and can mean they continue to rough sleep.

He said that the Council had successfully bid for money from a Help for Single Homeless fund with North Somerset Council and Bristol City Council to provide a “rapid response and outreach” service to identify and assist rough sleepers. The funding is £239K between the three authorities and runs until April 2016.

The Chair commented that she was encouraged by the levels of success and the partnerships established with the RUH and Julian House.

Councillor Gerry Curran asked if the count was simply a record of those sleeping on the street and did not take into account those staying within Julian House.

The Team Manager for Housing Options and Homelessness replied that the count was just of those people sleeping on the street and did not take into account those within Julian House.

Councillor Steve Hedges asked if the Council could make any further provision.

Councillor Tim Ball replied that he felt that nobody should have to sleep rough in this day and age, but that he was aware that some people do not want to come into a hostel.

The Team Manager for Housing Options and Homelessness commented that there was Severe Weather Emergency Provision in place for when it is very cold.

The Chair asked if the Bedroom Tax had had an impact of the number of people seeking homelessness advice.

The Team Manager for Housing Options and Homelessness replied that he did not have any specific figures to respond to that question. He added that the Council was a leading authority in downsizing tenancies.

The Chair wished to congratulate him on his report. She added that around 5 years ago a piece of work was carried out on Youth Homelessness in the Somer Valley and she asked if an update could be given to the Panel in March.

The Team Manager for Housing Options and Homelessness replied that an action plan update would be available for the Panel to discuss in March.