Agenda item

Karen Lucas, Director Housing Needs and Strategy provided members with a brief background on the mini review carried out about Homelessness and Rough Sleeping in the borough.  In addition a presentation highlighting the scope of the review, its findings and concerns was received.
Finally members were invited to consider and contribute to the draft recommendations.

The following issues were highlighted and discussed.

The Scrutiny Initiation Document was agreed on 14 January 2019 but due to time constraints; witness unavailability; a decision was taken for the review to be included in the work programme of the 2019/2020 municipal year.

The review considered how the Council’s Housing Services manages homelessness; the legislative frameworks; performances and outcomes related to homelessness; the use of temporary accommodation; rough sleeping and partnership working.

Members were reminded of their visits and meeting staff of Streets Kitchen, Solace, St Mungo’s, Glasshouse temporary shelter, Now Medical, the Streets Festival and Jubaa Somalia organisation. Also the Chair attended a seminar on homelessness and the committee had received a presentation from Islington Law Centre.

The Director of Housing Needs acknowledged the significant reductions in the number of homelessness decisions in the last 3 years especially when compared to other London boroughs. This was primarily due to the Services focus on engaging on more preventive activities.

Members were informed of strong partnership working across the public sector and the voluntary sector; Leadership officers attending Strategic Housing meetings across the North London sub-region and the pan London Councils meetings, all with a view to alleviating homelessness.

Data provided shows that in 2017/18, 2,504 households approached the Council’s Housing Team for advice and the reasons provided vary from family breakdown, domestic abuse and loss of private sector accommodation. In addition other reasons for seeking assistance included residents having children or expecting a child as a common category of priority need each year, making up 78% of all households accepted in 2017/18.

With regards to placing households in temporary accommodation, members were informed that although largely stable across London, it is noticeable that this has been on the increase in the last two years.

Members were informed that despite market challenges, the Council continues to experience reductions in out of borough placements, which indicates that a significant proportion of homeless households were still able to retain their social, family, educational and employment networks.

The meeting was informed of concerns raised Director highlighted concerns raised by voluntary organisations such as Solace and Islington Law Centre. This included vulnerable women finding it difficult to access services and the Council’s continued reliance on the services of its commissioned medical advice service for assessing applications for social housing applications. Other concerns raised was what role in particular do Housing Associations play with regards to preventing homelessness especially as they manage over 14,500 residents.

A street count exercise carried out by members and officers acknowledges an increasing number of rough sleeping on Islington Streets.

A copy of the draft recommendations was circulated at the meeting for consideration. The Chair informed members that although not an exhaustive list, he welcomed any additional recommendations to be submitted to the clerk of the committee.

The Chair informed members that the final report will be circulated ahead of the next meeting when it will be agreed and signed off.

RESOLVED:

1.    That draft recommendations be noted, subject to including an additional recommendation which reads: ‘The Service would need to give consideration to the support given to vulnerable people when discharged from hospital.

2.    That the final report be agreed at the next meeting of the committee