Agenda item

Impact of Covid on Homelessness Services

To present the report of the Head of Housing Services.

Minutes:

 

The report of the Head of Service (Housing) setting out how the Service responded to homelessness during the pandemic was presented for the Committee’s consideration. The report summarised the matters dealt with in terms of the number of households/individuals presenting as homeless during this time; the challenges in identifying and providing emergency accommodation; the physical and mental health issues experienced by many of those seeking help and the importance of partnership working in responding to the crisis.

 

The Housing Services Manager (Strategy, Commissioning and Policy) reported that the paper presents an overview of the challenges faced by the Housing Service in responding rapidly to the pandemic by providing safe accommodation to protect homeless people and reduce the community transmission of the virus. The Homelessness Service as with many other services, had to be provided in a different way with all activity conducted over the phone or on digital platforms with support being provided remotely and through the service’s support providers. The period has provided new opportunities to engage with individuals whom the service has been trying to support as well as with principal partners with all organisations pulling  together to ensure sufficient capacity. Providing enough units to meet the need provided a challenge due to the significant increase in the number of people seeking help; the increase flow of people seeking support has since continued with the service already having dealt with 100 such applications. One of the biggest challenges is being able to move those housed in emergency accommodation into permanent housing; a shortage of opportunities to move on as well as high rents means that the Authority is supporting individuals for longer periods. The Team has also seen an increase in the number of people presenting with complex issues including mental health issues, substance misuse and domestic violence. Other people have presented in a very vulnerable state with provision being made for food, tenancy starter packs, basic furniture and packs to assist if there is a need to self-isolate due to Covid.

 

In response to questions by the Committee, the Housing Services Manager (Strategy, Commissioning and Policy) further clarified –

 

           That the Covid 19 pandemic has exacerbated the homelessness situation in that extended lockdown periods have had an effect on family relationships and have contributed to family breakdown; they have led to increased instances of domestic abuse and have resulted in an increased number of  young people seeking support. While these are issues that the Housing Service is used to dealing with, the Covid 19 crisis has contributed to an increase in the scale of the challenges faced.

           That there is a perception that rough sleeping is something that affects larger towns and cities rather than rural areas and also a misapprehension that the Local Authority can solve the problem and compel individuals off the street; the Authority seeks to persuade individuals who are sleeping rough to move away from the streets into accommodation and other services which can also provide support and continues to try to work with rough sleepers who refuse advice and assistance.

           That homeless persons’ problems are not immediately solved by the offer of accommodation and many will require ongoing support to settle into and maintain their tenancy. Engaging with organisations that can offer additional help is therefore key to successfully sustaining a tenancy.

           That the Regional Homelessness Strategy Collaborative Work Plan appended to the report shows those areas where the North Wales local authorities have been working together on tackling homelessness issues. Each Local Authority also agrees their own local action to address issues in their own area.

           That a review of collaborative working during the pandemic is being conducted to obtain feedback particularly from the Authority’s support providers who have confirmed their appreciation of the accessibility of Housing Support officers during this time. There has also been close and productive collaboration with the Police and with the Probation Service. The Service will be looking at people with complex needs for whom the availability of housing is only part of the solution and where collaboration with other partner agencies is essential.

           Whilst the data available at this time does not confirm a link between the shortage of private tenancies and an increase in the number of second homes, there is an indication that private sector rents as well as landlords’ expectations in relation to tenancies have increased making it more difficult for individuals in receipt of benefits to access accommodation. The Service works closely with private landlords to make accommodation accessible and it is likely that the increase in house buying will in time make itself felt in a reduction in the number of properties available to rent; additionally private landlords may decide to sell their properties in a favourable property market. 

 

It was resolved to accept the report on the response to Covid and homelessness and to note the information.

 

NO FURTHER ACTION

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