Agenda item

To submit a report by the Head of Housing Services.

The report of the Head of Housing Services incorporating the Housing Support Commissioning and Delivery Plans for 2021/22 was presented for the Executive’s consideration.

The HSG is an early intervention grant programme to support activity which prevents people from becoming homeless, stabilise their housing situation or helps potentially homeless people to find and keep accommodation It does not fund the statutory duty on local authorities to prevent homelessness but augments, complements and supports the statutory service to ensure that the overall offer authorities provide helps people into the right homes with the right support to succeed.

Councillor Alun Mummery, Portfolio Member for Housing and Supporting Communities introduced the report by thanking the Housing Services Principal Development Officer for his work in developing the plans especially as the notification by Welsh Government of the increased allocation was only received days prior to Christmas. Notwithstanding the increase in the grant funding is very much welcomed, there is some anxiety about its continuation after 2021/22 and beyond given that it will have been committed for the purposes described in the report although it is understood unofficially that it will be maintained at this level as a minimum. Anglesey’s indicative allocation for 2021/22 will be increased from April, 2021 by £856,722.50 which is the first increase in the grant for 5 years with the new indicative award set at £3,571,720.50. In previous years the allocation has been set at £2,714,998 of which £2,643,866 was allocated to the Housing Support element; £64, 923 for Homeless Prevention(non-statutory) and £6,209 for the enforcement of Rent Smart Wales.

The Portfolio Member highlighted that over the past 18 months to two years data analysis and discussions with providers and other stakeholders have shown that there has been a shift in both the volume of referrals to the Housing Support Programme and in the number of complex cases which require support and targeted interventions. There were over 1,000 referrals in 2019/20 and 2020/21 is expected to see an equivalent if not higher number of referrals. Cases involving domestic abuse, mental health issues, substance misuse, individuals with a history of offending and young people in the 16 to 24 age range are a cause for concern especially when Covid-19 restrictions are lifted when levels of homelessness, mental health needs and domestic abuse are expected to increase and become more visible. Consequently, a rise in demand for Housing Support Services is anticipated. At present, the Service’s commissioned units of support per week stands at approximately 700 where one unit equates to one individual or family; the numbers awaiting contact or placed on waiting lists varies between 45 and 90 units and it is hoped that the additional funding can go some way to alleviating the demand.

The Portfolio Member elaborated on the proposed use of the additional money as set out in detail in section 4 of the report and referred to the challenge of ensuring that maximum benefit is realised quickly particularly as staff will need to be recruited whilst demand remains at an unprecedented high. At the time of writing, 99.3% had been committed for spending with a balance of £19,775.21 remaining and available for use for any of the three elements of the HSG. Similarly, any slippage incurred due to issues with recruitment or any other identified factor can be used flexibly.

The Housing Services Principal Development Officer acknowledged that formulating plans for the additional allocation in such a tight timescale has been a challenge; the increased funding is welcomed and it is hoped that it will help address the high level of demand although there are concerns about some of the groups which the funding supports even when the pandemic has ended.

In welcoming the increased support provided by Welsh Government for 2021/22, the Executive noted that the level of HSG funding in future years specifically whether it will be maintained at this increased level remains unconfirmed. This being so the Executive was of the view that Welsh Government should be urged to provide longer term certainty over future funding of the Housing Support Grant particularly in light of the additional pressures which Covid 19 is likely to create so as to enable the Authority to make appropriate provision to meet demand but also to help it plan its budget accordingly.

It was resolved –

•           To approve the recommendations of the IoACC’s Housing Support Grant Delivery and Commissioning Plans for 2021-22 thereby ensuring compliance with the Grant’s Terms and Conditions

•           To endorse the funding allocation for every service area as outlined on the Supporting People Commissioning Plan, and previously approved by the multi-agency Housing Support Planning Group.

•           That a letter on be sent to Welsh Government on behalf of the Portfolio Member for Finance and the Portfolio Member for Housing and Supporting Communities in recognition of the increased grant allocation and to also emphasise the importance of obtaining longer term certainty regarding the continuation of the grant at this level in order to enable appropriate provision to be made for the people whom the funding supports and to better facilitate budget and financial planning.