1. 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

2. 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

3. 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…

4. 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..

5. 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.

6. 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’ !!

7. 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

8. 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

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

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