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The Government Response to Homelessness and Rough Sleeping

This report highlights the implementation of the Homelessness Reduction Act, government initiatives to combat rough sleeping, and emerging service developments. It also discusses the challenges faced by local authorities and key statistics on homelessness.

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The Government Response to Homelessness and Rough Sleeping

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  1. The Government Response to Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Richard Williams Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Directorate 10th June 2019

  2. HRA Implementation – The Story So Far • Homelessness Advice and Support Team (HAST) set up autumn 2017 to support LAS with implementation – prior to commencement date HAST visited 200+ LAs and held regional HRA roadshows • MHCLG published final Code of Guidance, Secondary legislation, and H-CLIC schema (following consultation) • London Training Academy set up to support London (and later South East) LAs with recruitment and implementation – over 1000 trained so far • £72m new burdens funding for 1st two years of the Act with commitment to review the HRA within that timescale • March 30th 2018 Rough Sleeping Initiative launched – £30m funding to 83 LAs in 2018-19, and £46m to 249 LAs in 2019-20 to deliver interventions supported by a team of rough sleeping advisers, including specialist advisers from MoJ, Health, DfE, DWP, Home Office • Summer 2018 Rough Sleeping Strategy launched - cross government action based around 3 core pillars- Prevention, Intervention, Recovery – 61 (funded) commitments across government and £40m for Rapid Rehousing Pathway • PRS Access Funding of £19.5m allocated to 66 local authorities

  3. Key messages from local authorities about HRA The Act represents a major shift in practice, organisation, and culture which will take some time to bed in. Some areas are facing delivery challenges • Authorities report that the administrative burden of the Act combined with new case management systems and the requirements of reporting H-CLIC data have been challenging – we are interested in what changes would help that would not detract from the Act’s purpose? • Footfall has not increased significantly in most authorities but associated casework has, with more duties owed and cases held open longer for prevention and relief work • Availability of accommodation to prevent and relieve homelessness affects outcomes- including access to social housing, PRS and supported housing.

  4. Homelessness Statistics – headlines • 61,410 households were owed a new statutory homelessness duty – down 8.3% from 66,960 households in Q3. Single males were the largest represented household group with 23,120 or 37.6% of the total – up from 35.1% in Q3. • 30,330 households were helped to secure accommodation under the new prevention and relief duties – up 21.9% from 24,880 in Q3 • Of these, 26,880 or 43.8% of households were identified as having support needs – an increase from 43.1% in Q3. History of mental health problems (49.0% / 13,160 households) remained the most common support need, followed by physical ill-health or disability (30.1% / 8,100 households).

  5. Homelessness Statistics - Headlines • 2,750 referrals were made under the Duty to Refer. DWP – Jobcentre Plus made the most referrals with 520 or 18.9% of the total, followed by the National Probation Service with 430 or 15.6%, together representing one third of the referrals. • The most common reason for loss of a settled home was ‘family/friends can no longer accommodate’, followed by ‘end of private rented AST’ • A total of 83,700 households was living in temporary accommodation on 31 December 2018 – up 5% from 79,720 households on 31 December 2017 • A total of 124,490 children were living in temporary accommodation on 31 December 2018, with an average of 2.0 children per household

  6. Key messages from local authorities about HRA • Some LAS report an increase in TA, partly due to improved assessment and offer for single people, but also because the strong focus on delivering the HRA has led to less resource in the short term going into management of TA • Duty to refer working best in areas with strong partnerships in place. DWP making most referrals but of varying quality. Most LAS reporting that referrals are generally valid ie people genuinely threatened with homeless, but not always made at earliest opportunity • Most LAS have updated their websites to be HRA compliant and some have embraced opportunity to promote prevention opportunities through better and more accessible advice for customers • HAST experience is that positive and effective implementation, with well-prepared staff and good customer care are delivered in LAs where there is strong leadership committed to implementing change…

  7. Emerging Service Developments • Integration of key strategic partners into the frontline service, joint assessments and shared outcomes • Contracting out whole or part of the service to, or co-locating with third sector providers who might engage customers more effectively • Providing on-line access to better information, self-help tools and/or to make an application • Investment in recruitment and training to bring new people into the service, helping to change the culture • Expanding private rented access schemes to include single households – offer may be tiered to reflect different levels of need/priority • Re-emergence of home visiting as a key prevention tool

  8. HRA Review • MHCLG is undertaking a review of the Act including the resourcing of it and the additional burdens. • The purpose is to ensure the legislation is working and that local authorities and partners have the tools and support to effectively implement and operate the changes The review will have two components: • An external evaluation commissioned by MHCLG • Engagement with a wide range of stakeholders from local government and other sectors, including a call for evidence in summer 2019. • We will convene a working group for the review which will consist of homelessness organisations, local authority representative groups and local authorities from across the country. • We would be keen for everyone working in the field to participate in the call for evidence and share any insights in how the Act is working with us. LAs will be key to the review.

  9. Homelessness Reduction Boards • The challenge of reducing homelessness may not always be given the attention needed under existing statutory and non-statutory structures. We are considering the merits of establishing a new structure – a Homelessness Reduction Board - that would be responsible for tackling homelessness in the local area. • MHCLG consultation, Tackling Homelessness Together, seeks views on whether Homelessness Reduction Boards should be established and how such Boards would be set up to ensure local partners work together to reduce homelessness. • A Homelessness Reduction Board could play an important role in convening relevant local delivery partners, ensuring a strategic, joined-up approach to reducing homelessness in the area, and identifying and delivering the services and interventions that deliver their agreed objectives and outcomes.  

  10. Homelessness Reduction Boards • The Board could be a forum for holding all partners to account, focussing on action and systemic change, and the services and interventions that partners have committed to deliver to help reduce homelessness. • The Board could be the place where data is reviewed so that progress in reducing homelessness is measured, and effective actions and interventions are identified. •  There is an open question about whether the Board could be used to discuss and resolve individual complex cases of homelessness, or threatened homelessness, that would benefit from a multi-agency response. • https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/tackling-homelessness-together • The consultation closed on 16th May 2019

  11. FHSG after 2019/20 • FHSG is worth £617 from 17/18-19/20. • The Chancellor has said that there will be a spending review this year. Decisions about the future of homelessness funding, along with all other government funding, will be made at this point, which includes FHSG. • Ministers have made clear that homelessness and rough sleeping are a key priority for this Government and have committed to ending rough sleeping - which has been backed by £1.2 billion, so far. • We are looking to improve our evidence base over the coming months, including on how much TA costs, how it is being used to prevent and relieve homelessness, and how much funding LAs require. • We will be working closely with the sector, particularly local authorities over the coming months, to build our evidence base leading into the spending review. This includes consideration of what has gone well and what has not gone so well over the current spending review period.

  12. EU Exit (with a deal) and Eligibility • The Citizens’ Right deal signed with the EU on 25 November will ensure that EU citizens lawfully residing in the UK and UK nationals residing in the EU before the UK exits the EU will have their rights preserved. This includes maintaining their eligibility to access benefits and services, including social housing and homelessness assistance. • This agreement will also apply to EU nationals that arrive in the UK during the Implementation Period. • The EU Settlement Scheme will enable EU citizens and EFTA nationals resident in the UK and their family members to obtain the UK immigration status they will require in order to live and work in the UK after the end of the planned implementation period on 31 December 2020. • For further information about what settled and pre-settled status means visit https://www.gov.uk/settled-status-eu-citizens-families/what-settled-and-presettled-status-means

  13. EU Exit (with a deal) and Eligibility • For EU citizens that move to the UK after the end of the Implementation Period, the Home Office’s Immigration White Paper, published in December, sets out proposals for a single immigration system. This will  align the treatment of EEA nationals and non-EEA nationals that arrive in the UK after the end of the implementation period, to the extent we wish to do so, and depending on the UK’s future agreements with the EU. • Future access to benefits and services including social housing and homelessness assistance for EU citizens will be a matter for Parliament and the UK Government to decide.

  14. EU (No Deal) Exit and Eligibility • Delivering a deal remains the government’s top priority. However, it is right for the government to prepare for every eventuality, including a no deal scenario. • The Citizens’ Rights Deal protects the rights of EU citizens resident in the UK by 12 April 2019, if the UK leaves without a deal. This means they will continue to be eligible to access social housing, including supported housing, and homelessness assistance on the same terms as now. • Guidance has now been published on access to benefits and services for EEA nationals who come to the UK during the transition period • https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/eu-exit-eligibility-arrangements-to-access-public-funds-after-free-movement-ends-if-there-is-no-deal?utm_source=7d649061-9372-4670-a4b3-b1fe27b5eccb&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=govuk-notifications&utm_content=immediate

  15. EU (No Deal) Exit and Eligibility • The rights of EEA nationals when arriving in the UK after 12 April 2019 to access social housing and homelessness assistance • Temporary transitional arrangements would be put in place until December 2020 to allow time for amendments to legislation and implementation of new immigration arrangements. • During this period EEA nationals wishing to enter the UK would be granted 3 months leave to enter, after which they would be able to apply for 36 months temporary leave. Within the 36 months an EEA national would have the same entitlement to public funds as exist now • After 36 months an application would need to be made through the UK's new skills-based immigration system, which will begin from January 2021.

  16. Ending the use of s.21 notices to end Assured Shorthold Tenancies • As part of a complete overhaul of the sector, the government has outlined plans to consult on new legislation to abolish Section 21 evictions – so called ‘no-fault’ evictions. This will bring an end to private landlords uprooting tenants from their homes with as little as 8 weeks’ notice after the fixed-term contract has come to an end. • This will effectively create open-ended tenancies, bringing greater peace of mind to millions of families who live in rented accommodation. Many tenants live with the worry of being evicted at short notice or continue to live in poor accommodation for fear they will be asked to leave if they complain about problems with their home. The government will shortly launch a new consultation on proposals to remove the ability of landlords to use ‘no fault’ evictions under Section 21 of the 1988 Housing Act. • The government will collaborate with and listen to tenants, landlords and others in the private rented sector to develop a new deal for renting.

  17. Please contact us on: HAST@communities.gov.uk

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