1. The Homelessness Reduction Act 2017 – The Local Authority Perspective
05 December 2017
Mike Wright,
GMCA Strategic Lead on Homelessness

2. Context Setting HRACT – what does this mean for ‘the sector’?
What next for LA’s in the north?
Greater Manchester context?
How are LA’s preparing?

3. Before we begin – some personal thoughts:
Homelessness Reduction Act is a game-changer? (in spirit or in letter?)
Is this the time for Cinderella Services to go to the Ball?
We have 2-3 years of major policy and political focus and we need to make the most of this
What we shape now will be future-critical

4. 1. HRAct17 – What does it mean for the sector?
Make the Duty to Refer work for you
Continuing challenge of Welfare Reform
Number of ‘No Priority Need’ cases (1, 913 in GM)
Local service cuts in related areas
Demand
Staff training and capacity
Barriers – i.e. exclusions/lettings/allocations policies
Accessibility of service and advice
Protocols and pathways
Administration
Shortage of accommodation options
Challenges to allocations/letting policies and approach
Challenge to cross-boundary arrangements
Outcome-focus, include DHP, LWP etc., reduce failure demand
Systems Management

5. HRAct17 – What does it mean for the sector?
Understand local housing markets and the players in them
Mapping and profiling demand
Pathways for targeted groups
How to make sense of change and fit the different elements together –
FSHG; Supported Housing; New Burdens Funding;
“We wouldn’t do it now, would we?”

6. 2. Housing The Powerhouse? - Local Authorities in the North
Funding – cuts and New Burdens equity?
Still demand, T/A and stock pressure
Attractiveness of the area for LA’s in ‘the south’ dealing with demand pressures – maintain the North:South divide
Affordability impacted by economic growth and incomes – link to regeneration and economic development and uneven growth
Devolved areas and joint working
Asylum placements and future dispersal programme
Rural/Urban split

7. The Homelessness Reduction Act 2017
Greater Manchester’s Approach

8. 3. Greater Manchester response
Build on long history of collaboration and joint approaches, but not ‘one size fits all’
GM an early adopter Trailblazer area
Embedded in a major programme of Public Service Reform and system-change
i.e. Place-based integration; Life Chances Programme
City Region Mayor with new powers and a strong focus on homelessness and rough sleeping

9. Homelessness - The GM Context
09/10 to 16/17 - A story of growth?
Homelessness decisions 79%
Homelessness acceptances 69%
Homelessness preventions 129%
Temporary accommodation 236%
Rough sleeping 361%

10. Trailblazer Prevention Programme – 7 Key Themes
Theme 1 – Data, systems and information
Theme 2 – Local Hub development
Theme 3 – Social Lettings Agency Approach
Theme 4 – Homelessness Action Network
Theme 5 – Housing First approach for GM
Theme 6 – Pathways development
Theme 7 – Health and homelessness co-ordination and integration

11. Where we are up to: Recent confirmation of £3.8m financial settlement
Max £1.8m approved for Social Impact Bond for Entrenched Rough Sleepers
Commissioned single training programme for mixed front-line staff
Staff-led workstream groups
Specification for ICT requirements
Co-design on new paperwork

12. Where we are up to: Social Lettings Agency discussions with partners
Governance group – GM Housing Needs Group
Place-based Integration agenda with partners
GM Homelessness Action Network launched
Joint events with Health colleagues
Commissioned report into gaps in health and homelessness sectors
Joint commitment from housing providers

13. 4. Local Authorities Preparation:
Code of Guidance consultation
Front-line staff training, development and engagement
Change the culture
Demand profiling and assessment – main causes?
How to spend New Burdens funding
Stakeholders and partners engagement and awareness
Expectations management
Embed homelessness prevention in sector-wide approaches – not stand-alone

14. Local Authorities Preparation:
Revise policies, procedures and processes
ICT systems commissioning
Partner and stakeholder briefings – including Members
Review Allocations Schemes and Homelessness Strategies
Agree Cross-boundary arrangements
Revise prevention protocols
Target at main causes of homelessness
The Duty to Refer is only 10 months away!

15. Thank you for listening.
To Finish:
Thank you for listening.