Name of presentation Katie Dawkins Housing Options and Support Access Manager

Name of presentation Today’s presentation What is Gold Standard? –Diagnostic Peer Review –10 Local challenges –Royal Borough of Greenwich Housing Options and Support Service Greenwich Approach To PRS –Improving quality of available stock –Promoting Access –Affordability –Discharging homeless duty into PRS –Clients with support needs –Supporting PRS landlords –Supporting PRS tenants

Name of presentation NPSS set up specifically to develop and administer this framework for providing continuous improvement in front line housing services Corporate commitment > peer review > application > award Huge undertaking of work, requiring leading officers to coordinate the work, submissions and to maintain momentum. Some boroughs have teams dedicated to this work! Gold Standard Reinforces what you’re doing well Identifies gaps Reduces duplication Cements existing working procedures Learn from peers Unique opportunity for in depth insight into other boroughs’ ways of working

Name of presentation Gold Standard - DPR Overall quality of housing options Statistical analysis of P1E results, and other national data Homeless strategy Website review Reception and interview facilities Customer interview or home visit Housing Options Files Front line staff Homelessness file Statistical analysis of P1E results, and other national data Key partners Managers Visits to TA and EOA

Name of presentation Gold Standard Local Challenge 1:“To adopt a corporate commitment to prevent homelessness which has buy in across all local authority services” Local Challenge 2:“To actively work in partnership with voluntary sector and other local partners to address support, education, employment and training needs” Local Challenge 3:“To offer a Housing Options prevention service to all clients including written advice” Local Challenge 4:“To adopt a No Second Night Out model or an effective local alternative” Local Challenge 5:“To have housing pathways agreed or in development with each key partner and client group that include appropriate accommodation and support” Local Challenge 6: “To develop a suitable private rented sector offer for all client groups, including advice and support to both client and landlord” Local Challenge 7: “To actively engage in preventing mortgage repossessions including through the Mortgage Rescue Scheme” Local Challenge 8:“To have a homelessness strategy which sets out a proactive approach to preventing homelessness and is reviewed annually to be responsive to emerging needs” Local Challenge 9:“To not place any young person aged 16 or 17 in Bed and Breakfast accommodation” Local Challenge 10:“To not place any families in Bed and Breakfast accommodation unless in an emergency and for no longer than 6 weeks”

Name of presentation Referrals Appointments, duty system and referrals Triage. Drop-in/ / phone access Customer Access Team Singles Team Mental Health Team Substance Misuse/ Offending Families Team Private Sector Team Young Peoples Team Welfare Reform Team RBG Housing Options and Support Service Children's services, YOT Mortgage providers, court duty, money advice Probation, DAAT NHS mental health wards Tenancy Services, Hospital discharge Children’s Services, Tenancy Services Tenancy services, debt advice agencies

Name of presentation Royal Borough of Greenwich (RBG) has a strong corporate commitment to tackling poverty and to promoting economic growth Anti Poverty Strategy includes focus on prevention of homelessness, improving Private Rented Sector (PRS) standards RBG Homelessness Strategy - 4 key objectives including to ‘Increase the supply of good quality private rented sector accommodation available to people at risk of homelessness’ Private Rented Sector in RBG

Name of presentation Improving quality of the stock – The carrot and the stick! Grants for improvements/empty homes in return for agreement to let to HOSS clients Facilitate access to Landlord Accreditation Schemes – National Landlord Association (NLA) London Landlord Accreditation Scheme (LLAS) 224 accredited landlords to date PRS Enforcement Project inspecting and enforcing standards on poor quality PRS, particularly HMOS and ‘rogue landlords’ Cross borough/agency cooperation to identify rogue landlords and coordinate enforcement activity Environmental Health Officers: completed over 1100 visits, served 112 improvement notices 23 Prohibition Orders 33 prosecutions commenced 4 successfully completed with large fines imposed on landlords

Name of presentation RBG PRS Access scheme = ‘HACTRAC’. Scheme is open at different levels to all homeless clients Commissioned PRS procurement Schemes for non-priority clients with support needs – St. Mungos, Thames Reach Housing Options Pack available for all clients with regularly updated landlord/agent list, info on AST, HB, LHA Non-priority clients advised and assisted to access budgeting loans or Emergency Support Scheme to fund deposits Letter of introduction for clients to take to landlords Promoting Access to PRS High clients (Hactrac Gold) properties procured for clients or clients supported to find their own PRS property negotiate with LL about bond/deposit/incentive Low priority clients client finds their own PRS letting (within LHA limit) we will provide deposit guarantee Includes intentionally homeless and non- priority single

Name of presentation Affordability PRS properties are increasingly unaffordable to our clients, greater intervention and support needed to secure properties In RBG the average shortfall between a market rent and the LHA (maximum amount payable in housing benefit) is now £296pcm Income/expenditure included within Housing Options and Support Service assessments; particularly important if we plan to discharge duty through a Private Rented Sector Offer (PRSO) Clients advised on budgeting, and referred to debt advice agencies for specialist support with multiple debt

Name of presentation Welfare Reforms have a massive impact on affordability, particularly in the private sector. We have a dedicated Welfare Reform Team based within the Housing Options and Support Service including employment support workers and JCP officer Outreach service completes holistic assessments and support residents affected by reforms across all tenures Focus on employment and employability TBC clients have been supported into work to date. HOSS and Housing Benefit Managers meet frequently and have positive dialogue, joint working arrangements – including 2 x HB staff within our team for roll-out Discretionary Housing Payments (DHP) targeted and closely managed by managers across services Affordability

Name of presentation Council adopted power to end the duty through a Private Rented Sector Offer (PRSO) Political commitment not to use PRSO for out of borough properties Use of decanted stock managed by housing association to discharge duty on one year AST Scheme offers affordable housing to working residents PRSO’s being used to discharge duty to residents ineligible to join our housing register – target is 50 this year Suitability and affordability checks done on all potential cases End of Duty

Name of presentation Crisis funded RBG shared housing scheme delivered by Thames Reach officer embedded within our team Scheme in its 4 th year, and an additional staff member to join with aim of increasing procurement Around 40 lettings per year achieved to date HMO housing for non-priority homeless people under 35 Officer works with landlords/agents to secure good quality accommodation Officer supports the tenants and mediates at house meetings ‘Pre-tenancy’ training for some tenants Works with the landlord and tenants to address any concerns, tackle ASB, assist people to move on In the year 2014/15 95% of the tenants sustained their tenancies for longer than 6 months. PRS – Low Support needs

Name of presentation PRS – Additional support needs HACTRAC –Procurement –rent deposit bond/guarantee –Financial incentives for private LL St Mungo’s ‘spot purchase’ procurement for single people with additional needs but who are not ‘priority need’. Various local HMO agencies – close working with these agents All with floating resettlement support provided by HOSS Singles team Rough sleepers – Street Rescue, NSNO hubs.

Name of presentation Procurement Team includes 4 x HACTRAC procurement officers 2 x Tenancy Support Officers - liaise with landlords on tenancy sustainment issues, particularly resolving HB problems The ‘offer’ to landlords includes: damages or rent guarantee bond free Tenancy Agreements affordability check of all tenants dedicated contact officer for portfolio landlords Team Landlords Business Club held 4 x per year Monthly Landlord’s Mailshot Advice and support on reduction of energy consumption Information on grants and loans Training and Accreditation Supporting Landlords

Name of presentation Supporting Tenants HOSS combines housing advice, housing options and assessment housing support into one service; one approach, one assessment; specialist teams all working with one set of key forms; one shared database. HOSS single people’s team provides floating support to non-priority clients who are offered PRS tenancies via HACTRAC help clients through resettlement, moving into a new home and sustaining their tenancy RBG also funds voluntary sector agencies to provide housing advice and support

Name of presentation Supporting Tenants - HAC Private Sector Team within the HOSS (Housing Aid Centre - HAC) prevents homelessness from PRS tenants and home owners Team are specialists in landlord tenant law and intervene to resolve disputes, and protect tenants rights Staff trained to carry out interviews under PACE, and to prosecute illegal eviction Delivering training sessions to police to assist and respond effectively to illegal evictions Court duty service advocating on behalf of potential clients

Name of presentation Any questions?