HOMELESSNESS IN INVERNESS AN OVERVIEW

1. HOMELESSNESS ININVERNESS � AN OVERVIEW Ian Brown, Day Centre Manager David MacIver, Streetwork Project The Highland Council, Housing & Property Service.

2. Homelessness legislation in Scotland �The Housing (Scotland) Act 2001 requires councils to provide a minimum of temporary accommodation, advice and assistance to all applicants assessed as homeless, regardless of whether they have been assessed as being in priority need� Scottish Government.

3. 2012 Target �We have in place an ambitious target to eradicate the distinction between �priority� and �non-priority� homeless households by the end of 2012. This will mean that all unintentionally homeless people are entitled to permanent accommodation at that time.� Malcolm Chisholm (December 2005)

4. Applying as Homeless The Local Authority should� Accept all homeless applications Provide temporary accommodation Make full enquiries Issues a decision in writing Inform applicants of right of review Provide advice and assistance

5. The Four Tests A legal duty to accommodate permanently is established when the applicant� �is HOMELESS, in PRIORITY NEED, not INTENTIONALLY HOMELESS and has a LOCAL CONNECTION. �then you can wait for a house!

6. Temporary Accommodation Large numbers of applicants in temporary accommodation � always operating at capacity. Contract beds � 100 B&B rooms and 60 �bed-sit� type rooms. Non-Contract � 70 B&B rooms, 8 shared houses and 1 bed-sit. �Temporary Furnished� � 90 properties �well over 320 homeless households in LA accommodation at any time.

7. Other options� Salvation Army Resettlement Homeless Trust Hostels Albyn Supported Cale House Flora MacDonald House Sacro �Rehab/Prison/Hospital

8. Permanent accommodation There are very few properties available in Inverness. Only 60 LA voids at present � most currently being repaired and the rest are already allocated! Most voids come up through a tenant dying. (Other ways include abandonment or evictions) Void turnover now about a fast as it could be (around 6 weeks). RSL�s (e.g. Albyn and Cairn) also provide solutions. Since introduction of HHR in 2008 all partners working from same allocations policy and from the same waiting list.

9. Homeless Day Centre WARMTH/SHELTER FOOD FOOD VOUCHERS WASHING/DRYING LOCKERS CLOTHING TRIPS PROJECTS INFORMATION ADVICE TELEPHONE/FAX INTERPRETATION NHS OUTREACH SUPPORT HOUSING OPTIONS

10. Day Centre Staff 9 Day Care Officers Resettlement Officer Housing Needs Assessor Streetwork Project Officer Doctor CPNA CPN Homeless Nurse

11. Other services� Several other services are available to Day Centre clients including� Accommodations Officer Dentist Prison liaison nurse Interpreters Benefits maximisation officer Job Centre staff Literacy workers

12. In one sentence� We aim to provide every client with the support to resolve their homeless situation and to address the issues at the root of their homelessness.

13. The Streetwork Project Outreach service designed to proactively engage with rough sleepers. Aim to prevent or shorten rough sleeping episodes as far as possible. Service began in Jan �06 but the post was created in Nov �07. Patrols in conjunction with the Homeless Nurse or other staff at the Day Centre. Monitors and records rough sleeping in Inverness.

14. Who sleeps rough? Those choosing to sleep rough. Those who don�t know help is available. Those who we don�t have a duty to accommodate. Those we can�t accommodate.

15. The current rough sleeping situation 50 individuals known to have slept rough since 1/11/8. Average per night is not less than 6 - probably higher. 66% have a significant addiction (almost always alcohol). 95%+ male. 95%+ single. 25% migrant workers.

16. Responses to rough sleeping Homeless application process Referrals to non-LA accommodation providers Help into private rented sector Help to return home Referrals to rehab beds �a Night Shelter?