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Homelessness at the core of Housing Options advice

Homelessness at the core of Housing Options advice. Fiona King, Senior Policy Officer Shelter Scotland National Homelessness Event September 2012. Overview -. Homelessness in Scotland Where we were, where we are, and where we want to be The ‘2012 commitment’

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Homelessness at the core of Housing Options advice

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  1. Homelessness at the core of Housing Options advice Fiona King, Senior Policy Officer Shelter Scotland National Homelessness Event September 2012

  2. Overview - • Homelessness in Scotland • Where we were, where we are, and where we want to be • The ‘2012 commitment’ • The role of Housing Options advice • What it can do • What it can’t do • Integrating prevention and crisis response • Partnerships and next steps

  3. National picture • Homelessness applications: 45,322 • Priority need assessments: 92% • Total social stock: 594,874 • Total lets: 55,310 • Lets to homeless applicants: 36% • Waiting list applicants: 157,700

  4. Progress • Homelessness Task Force • Evolution of service delivery • Culture change / partnerships • Corporate approach to homelessness/housing • Work towards removal of ‘priority need’

  5. ...and drift • Only recent focus on prevention • More work to be done around: • Health and homelessness • Tenancy sustainment • Early intervention • Lack of supply

  6. What does a HO service look like? • Integrated part of housing/hln service – about access to housing • Initial diagnostic interview • Person-focused, individual • Impartial • Better links with PRS, RSLs, support providers etc • Linking need, aspiration & options across all tenures

  7. Housing Options advice • Does not replace statutory services/duties • Objective shouldn’t be: reduce hln applications • Should focus on sustainable housing solutions • Must not become… gatekeeping • What are the triggers for a hln assessment? • Needs to measure outputs/outcomes

  8. Prevention + crisis response • Different delivery models – but should have core elements • Retain the homeless statutory safety net – not ‘two routes’ • Integrated with progressive prevention, early intervention and a corporate approach to housing problems. • Excellent customer service/good communication

  9. Service user priorities • To know where to go in a crisis • To be seen quickly • Information to be correct/realistic • To be treated with dignity and respect • To offer help and solutions, not barriers • Good communication at all stages – ideally one key worker • Practical next steps to get a safe home • Support in new tenancy

  10. Monitoring/measurement • Scottish Government statistics working group • Problem of measuring prevention • Localised recording frameworks • Consistency and benchmarking • Role of the Regulator

  11. Next steps… • Partnership working • Development of sustainable recording framework / monitoring of long-term outcomes • Ongoing training and development • Sharing best practice /learning points • SHR – themed study?

  12. Fiona King, Senior Policy Officer, Shelter Scotland Fiona_king@shelter.org.uk 0344 515 2456 www.shelter.org.uk

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