Issue - meetings

Arising from a report of the Group Manager for Housing, the Homes Policy Development Group has recommended that the revised Homelessness Strategy be approved.

Arising from a report of the Group Manager for Housing, the Homes Policy Development Group had recommended that the revised Homelessness Strategy be approved.

The Cabinet Member for Housing and Property Services outlined the contents of the report stating that the existing strategy originally covered the period from 2013 to 2018 and that a Cabinet Member decision had extended the policy until now.  He highlighted the objectives within the strategy:

·         Minimising rough sleeping

·         Maximising prevention activities and outcomes

·         Increasing accommodation options

·         Improving health and wellbeing by supporting those with complex needs

Consideration was given to:

·         The number of applicants presenting as homeless had increased by 25% rising from 455 in 2017/18 to 602 in 2018/19. 

·         The triggers of homelessness in Mid Devon

·         The increase in numbers of approaches from those being evicted by social landlords

·         The reports and data received by the Homes Policy Development Group

·         The number of rough sleepers

·         The use of S106 monies (for affordable housing) to offset the shortfall in accommodation.

RESOLVED that the recommendation of the Policy Development Group be approved.

(Proposed by the Chairman)

Note:  *Report previously circulated, copy attached to minutes.

To receive a report from the Group Manager for Housing Services regarding the Homelessness Strategy which is currently being reviewed and this report provides information on progress relating to this project.

The Group had before it, and NOTED, a report * from the Group Manager for Housing Services stating that the Homelessness Strategy was being currently reviewed.

The following was highlighted within the report:

·         The Housing Services department were seeing a lot more people through the door presenting themselves as homeless.

·         The Homelessness Reduction Act 2017 required the Council to conduct a full data review and stated that it must work closely with tier one authorities such as Devon County Council.

·         The existing Homelessness Strategy was extended to the end of December 2019 under delegated powers by the Cabinet Member for Housing to allow a thorough review of the Strategy to take place.

Discussion took place with regard to:

·         Whether homelessness was worse in the towns? It was explained that homelessness was just as acute in the rural areas but the agencies providing support were probably located in the towns. Just because a large number of homeless people visited CHAT for example in Tiverton that didn’t mean there was a bigger problem in Tiverton than anywhere else.

Note: * Report previously circulated; copy attached to the signed minutes.