Agenda item

The Committee considered a report on a Temporary Accommodation Policy.  The aim of the policy was to set out the principle of how the Council would seek to meet its responsibilities to people who were homeless or threatened with homelessness in the Borough.  The Portfolio Holder for Community Safety and Wellbeing introduced the report and outlined how the Council had a statutory obligation to provide suitable accommodation for those who were eligible. 

Members raised the following issues and queries:

-       How were sources of help and support promoted?  The Partnerships Manager explained this was through various methods including - banners on display in Newcastle town centre; social media; reacting to reports of rough sleepers; through regular checks carried out by staff.  Members were informed that staff often knew who the rough sleepers were and where they were located and regular checks were made.  There was a free phone number accessible via payphones, the number tended to be well known to rough sleepers who also knew locations of drop in services and other support.  Reference was made to the BID Ambassadors based in the Guildhall who also knew how to access specialist services and support. 

-       Members noted that where hotels were used for temporary accommodation the staff may not be aware of how to find sources of help for those in need.  The Partnerships Manager advised that people who were homeless or rough sleeping may have complex needs and specialist support was needed; they may also not meet the threshold to access social care.  Over recent months there had been positive work with the County Council and progress was being made with accessing the specialist support that was needed. 

-       Members suggested it was a priority to ensure temporary accommodation was located within the Borough and asked if there was a limit to how far away such accommodation could be provided?  The Partnership Manager explained that the priority was to ensure the accommodation was appropriate; provision had been used in Stoke on Trent as that was where many supported providers were located.  The council did not have its own stock of accommodation.  There had been positive discussions with partners and the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government around providing pathways of support to address ongoing issues rather than just providing a bed for a night.  The Partnership Manager asked for views on whether the approach in the draft policy was the right one.  Members emphasised the need to ensure a balance was struck between providing the right temporary accommodation and enabling people to access their own existing support networks.  The Partnership Manager responded that out of area could simply be a few miles outside the Borough where people may already be accessing other support services.  There may be occasions where out of area support was helpful such as Rehab services or in cases of Domestic Abuse.

-       Were there many cases of adults with learning difficulties in need of temporary accommodation and if so, it was particularly important that they could remain near their support group.  The Partnership Manager explained that social care would be involved in these cases and efforts would be made to accommodate people close to home but this would not always be possible dependent on where specialist support was located. 

-       Reference was made to the reasons behind rough sleeping and whether there were options around a fast track approach to stop the situation accelerating.  The situation may not be due to a need for specialist support but rather due to a particular combination of circumstances.  The Partnership Manager outlined work that had been undertaken over recent months and how greater hardship had been seen due to the pandemic.  She felt the main reasons for homelessness and rough sleeping remained the same and there was a role around preventative work; training and better promotion around availability of services and support.  She felt there was a positive opportunity with the Housing Advice Service being brought in-house from April 2021.

Resolved: That

(a)  The Temporary Accommodation Policy be received and the Committee requests that the Policy reflect that the Council will endeavour to find accommodation within the Borough in recognition of the importance of existing support networks but it is accepted that this is not always possible or appropriate in certain situations;

(b)  Signposting information be sent to Bed and Breakfast providers who offer temporary accommodation to enable this to be passed on or used as appropriate; and

(c)  The Committee receive a further update on the role and work of the Newcastle Housing Advice Service as it progresses back in-house.