The Council led a multi-agency Rough Sleeping Initiative (RSI) which consisted of partner services from housing, health, social care, mental health and the voluntary sector.  The RSI provided holistic support in a range of settings including the street, Temporary Accommodation (TA) and units of Housing First (HF) accommodation.  As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic HF accommodation had stalled.

At the start of lockdown and as a result of the Government’s ‘Everyone In’ instruction, the Council made additional discretionary TA placements for former rough sleepers. At present, the Council had eight rough sleepers living in emergency accommodation with a further 22 considered to be at risk of rough sleeping given the reduced ability of many to sofa surf between households.  The Government was committed to preventing these rough sleepers returning to the streets through their Next Steps Accommodation Pathway (NSAP) grant fund.

In 2020, the Council worked with all local authorities in East Sussex to develop a consortium bid to the NSAP; two tranches of funding were awarded.  The first tranche of £112,000 met the cost of the discretionary placements made under the ‘Everyone In’ instruction and covered the period up until March 2021. The cost to date of providing additional TA was approximately £122,000, leaving a deficit to the Council of £10,000 which was likely to increase before year end.  It was unclear what future funding might be available beyond March 2021.

£280,000 NSAP funding had now been received of which the Council match-funded 40% to purchase four units for HF accommodation in Bexhill; sale completion was expected by April 2021.  Support for the units would be provided through the RSI and the overall principle of HF was to provide a stable, independent home and intensive personalised support for those experiencing multiple and complex needs.  Investing in HF units would help to reduce cost pressures on the Council’s use of emergency accommodation.  Currently, the average cost of a placement was £221 per week.

To facilitate the delivery of the HF units, it would be necessary to issue non-secure tenancies as these units were not intended to be destination housing; these were standard across East Sussex.  A robust eviction procedure, identical to that used in Wealden District Council which had been established in consultation with the Council’s legal team, was detailed at Appendix A to the report.  Discussions were being held with a range of partners / providers regarding property management functions etc.

The Head of Service and the Housing Team were congratulated on their work in this area thus far and Members were pleased to see that these vulnerable people were now being supported via a co-ordinated approach with all relevant agencies.  It was anticipated that once landlords were able to recommence eviction procedures, the call on housing services and likely number of people rough sleeping would increase.    It was requested that consideration be given to providing at least one unit of such accommodation in a rural setting, provided that adequate assurances could be provided by the supporting agencies. 

RESOLVED: That the Head of Housing and Community be granted delegated authority to issue non-secure tenancies and enable the Council to provide Housing First accommodation to rough sleepers in the district.