Agenda item

[Anthony Walker, Homelessness Strategy and External Relationships Manager, to present report]

[TO FOLLOW]

Anthony Walker, Homelessness Strategy and External Relationships Manager presented the report and highlighted key points.  He referred to the unprecedented increase nationally in homelessness and to the change in legislation, with the introduction of the Homeless Reduction Bill in April 2018.  The introduction of the Bill would require resources to be redirected towards prevention of homelessness, with more strategic work with private landlords, including the Rent with Landlords scheme.

In respect of people sleeping rough, again numbers nationally were increasing.  The Leader of the Council and the West Midlands Mayor had established various task groups to look at the issue centrally and investigate various solutions.

The Chair referred to the task groups and confirmed that priorities had been identified, with a focus on early intervention, partnership working and to look at more imaginative solutions.  Various work streams would be brought together and out of hours provision would be extended.  The role of voluntary and community groups would also be investigated, with a view to increasing their role.  The issue of aggressive begging would also need to be addressed.  It was important to be proactive and to tackle the issue now before the introduction of the Universal Credit scheme.

In answer to a question regarding the potential to house homeless people within the City, Anthony Walker stated that it was not just accommodation that the homeless required, they needed additional support, from various organisations working collaboratively and it was hoped through the Homeless Reduction Bill to find some solutions.

Helen Child, Third Sector Partnership referred to the impact of Universal Credit, particularly on the young and those in work and she confirmed that the Inclusion Board had been discussing ways to ensure that effective crisis support would be available.  Social landlords were working hard to engage over the issues; however; it was more difficult to engage with private landlords.

Anthony Walker confirmed that he would be attending a meeting with private landlords on 30 October 2017, to talk to them about the impact of Universal Credit.

In answer to a question regarding evictions, Anthony Walker stated that the main issue was tenants being unaware of their rights when facing eviction.  Unfortunately, there was a fear and stigma to renting in the private sector.  It was important to explain that good quality landlords wanted to keep good tenants and the public appeared to be unaware of that.

Jeremy Vanes, Royal Wolverhampton Hospital NHS Trust referred to his concern regarding Universal Credit and fluctuations in mortgage rates which could mean that tenants were further put at risk if rates increased and landlords were struggling to pay.  It would be appropriate to plan for the worst-case scenario.  The Inclusion Board had discussed the issue that some vulnerable groups would never be able to transition to Universal Credit and who would deal with those groups.  It should be noted that there was evidence to show that the health of people who became homeless deteriorated rapidly and that impacted further on services.

In answer to a question regarding the additional scope of the monitoring questions, Anthony Walker advised that the additional questions would give more individualised information which would hopefully allow specific issues to be addressed.

Steven Marshall, Wolverhampton CCG stated that many homeless could not access NHS services as they were not registered and it was important that officers worked closely with Public Health.

In answer to a question regarding the number of private landlord properties in the city, Anthony Walker confirmed that it made up 14% of the housing stock, around 100,000 properties.

The Chair confirmed that as work progressed the Board would receive regular updates from the task groups.

Resolved:

1. That the Board noted the actions by which the city implemented the Homeless Reduction Bill.

That the Board noted the impact of the Homeless Reduction Bill.