A Council Perspective The HRA in a challenging housing market Homelessness Reduction Act 2017 A Council Perspective The HRA in a challenging housing market Amber Christou – Swale Borough Council

Homelessness Reduction Act 2017 Reducing homelessness through prevention……… is it possible? Swale BC Prevention Statistics 2016/17 2015/16 2014/15 Total Number of preventions 229 277 479 Total cases able to remain at home 141 105 270 Total number assisted to obtain alternative accommodation 88 172 209 Of which assisted into alternative PRS 26 80 115 (Bonds Issued) 15 22 39 of which assisted to move into Social housing 25 52 45 Number of Homeless decisions 509 413 287

Homelessness Reduction Act 2017 Our current prevention activity: Rent top ups - Rent in advance Cash deposits Payment of PRS agency fees   Payment of arrears – increasingly to social landlords Support to bid for social homes through Choice Based Lettings Assistance into supported accommodation Mediation and negotiation with family, friends and landlords Hoarding clearance Disabled adaptations And many more…

Homelessness Reduction Act 2017 General predicted pressures and risks: New Burdens funding not adequate to meet new burdens (greater than the 26% increase in numbers seen in Wales?) Further welfare reforms exacerbating the difficulties associated with homelessness and housing advice provision. Predicted national shortage of experienced, qualified Housing Advice/Options officers at every level. Potentially appropriate but onerous requirement for all Housing Advice/Options officers to be qualified, with training updated annually. Comprehensive changes required to Housing ICT systems. Potential additional usage requirements for face to face and other front line provision..  

Homelessness Reduction Act 2017 In addition to ….. Increased length of time required for officers to manage cases. Potential additional temporary accommodation and storage costs as placements made earlier and for longer. Allocations Policy will require review and potential amendment to accommodate any new provisions Significant risk of serious increased shortages of TA provision. Reduction in support from agency partners with ‘duty to refer’ Increase in number of reviews and ombudsman cases.

Homelessness Reduction Act 2017 The additional Impact of a challenging Local Housing Market Significant reduction in access to PRS Competition from London Active competition for all forms of TA New ‘nightly lets’ industry forming HA development programmes revised, reduced and ‘re-tenured’ !!

Homelessness Reduction Act 2017 We are planning for : All approaches to rise as more people seek help – possibly by more than a third more help sought by single people with complex needs, previously just receiving the basic non priority advice duty Increased contact from partner agencies regarding their clients Minimal to no change in customer expectation A new performance management regime

Homelessness Reduction Act 2017 Significantly increased workload for senior staff. Competing for quality staff with other LHA partners Increased ongoing legal training at all levels. Potential requirement for housing law specialists to be recruited/commissioned. Increase in complex cases such as prison release, hospital discharge etc. Restructure to include Assessment Service, Prevention Service, Homelessness Service and Accommodation Service

Reducing homelessness through prevention……… is it possible? Homelessness Reduction Act 2017 Reducing homelessness through prevention……… is it possible? Our Greatest challenge remains…… Complex Cases!!

Thank you Any Questions? Homelessness Reduction Act 2017 Amber Christou – June 2017