Decision details

Under the Homelessness Act 2002 local authorities are statutorily bound to review their homelessness services every five years, setting out a comprehensive assessment of emerging trends and examining interventions employed to prevent homelessness in the first instance and tackle crisis presentations when they occurred.

On the basis of the review the Council is expected to prepare a prevention strategy charting activities to tackle and litigate against homelessness over the next five year period.

The Draft Homelessness Strategy 2016/21 seeks to comply with that duty and is being presented to the Board for its comments as part of the public consultation process, which is due to end on 15 February 2016.  Following the consultation process the final Homelessness Strategy is expected to be presented to LBBD Cabinet for approval in March / April 2016.

The Board:

(i)  Noted the high demand for affordable housing in the local area, which currently could not be met, and the effect of the increased cost of rents in the private sector, which had resulted in a growing affordability gap for local people;

(ii)  Noted that whilst the strategy was being further developed there was an opportunity to look at more radical options.  In the meantime, effort would be concentrated on the top two or three objectives, set out in the report.  This would initial be the accommodation needs for Looked after Children leaving care and teenage mothers;

(iii)  Noted that the Safeguarding Adults Board and Safeguarding Children’s Board would also be part of the consultation process; and

(iv)  Raised concern with the CCG about the ability of homeless people being able to register at GP’s and for other medical / health support.  It was noted that it would be possible to reactive the existing GP Concordat.