Rough Sleeping Strategy: Rapid Rehousing Pathway Prospectus

Transcription

1 Rugh Sleeping Strategy: Rapid Rehusing Pathway Prspectus Expressins f Interest fr Early Adpters The Ministry f Husing, Cmmunities and Lcal Gvernment (MHCLG) invites applicatins frm Lcal Authrities that wish t be Early Adpters (EA), t apply fr funding t supprt the lcal establishment r enhancement f a Rapid Rehusing Pathway (RRP) fr rugh sleepers. We are lking fr lcal authrities, with their partners, wh are innvative, creative and want t pineer a new apprach t ending rugh sleeping. Abve all, we want t hear frm lcal authrities wh are determined t reduce their rugh sleeper numbers, and will be unflinchingly fcused n utcmes fr this vulnerable grup. Areas wh can deliver quickly, have gd lcal relatinships in place and at least sme parts f a Rapid Rehusing Pathway that are functining, will be priritised as an Early Adpter. A secnd prcess will fllw early next year t fund thse with a strng lcal need but less develped systems. What is a Rapid Rehusing Pathway (RRP)? In ur Rugh Sleeping Strategy 1 (RSS) which we published in August 2018, we set ut ur plan t meet ur cmmitment t halve rugh sleeping by 2022, and end it entirely by By 2027, we want t base ur respnse t rugh sleeping n a rapid rehusing apprach. This means if a persn is at risk f rugh sleeping they will have their needs assessed quickly in line with the requirements f the Hmelessness Reductin Act , be ffered apprpriate supprt and then helped rapidly int a hme, with apprpriate supprt alngside. We are clear that every area with ne r mre rugh sleepers shuld have a clear lcal pathway int settled accmmdatin that includes: Rapid assessment f need and eligibility; Rapid rehusing int an apprpriate settled hme and referral int supprt services, where needed. This apprach was endrsed by ur Advisry Panel, made up f sectr experts, and the RSS set ut plicies that will supprt this system in lcal areas. Why is this supprt available? In autumn 2017, 4,751 peple slept rugh n a typical night. This was an increase f 15% n the previus year. We are clear that the human cst f this, in brken lives t ften cut shrt, is unacceptable. A stable hme is an essential element in a persn s recvery frm rugh sleeping and needs t g hand in hand with flexible supprt that is tailred t individual needs. We need t ensure that peple have supprt in place t mve int sustainable accmmdatin

2 Ensuring that the right supprt, tailred t an individual s needs, is prvided alngside a hme, is fundamental. The earlier that a stable base can be established, the greater the chances that an individual will nt return t rugh sleeping. The internatinally recgnised Husing First mdel fllws the principle that the first thing t d when intervening t secure a persn s recvery is t supprt them int a hme, with intensive wrap-arund supprt prvided in tandem t help them address their needs. In many areas, ften supprted and funded by the Gvernment s Rugh Sleeping Initiative (RSI), a RRP exists, r at least sme elements f it. We want t ensure this pathway exists, in sme frm, in every area where there are rugh sleepers. The Gvernment is therefre prviding up t 100m f funding fr areas t develp this pathway. Firstly, we launched the 50m Mve n Fund, administered by Hmes England, which is nw pen fr bids 3 frm areas utside f Lndn. This fund will prvide capital fr the delivery f much needed hmes fr peple leaving hstels and dmestic abuse refuges, and als fund prvisin f tenancy supprt fr at least tw years. We are nw inviting Expressins f Interest frm innvative areas wh are determined t reduce the numbers f rugh sleepers n their streets. We are lking fr lcal authrities, grups f lcal authrities r lcal authrities with their partners wh wuld like t becme Early Adpters f the pathway as set ut in the RSS. These fur elements are: 15 Smewhere Safe t Stay Pilts We will fund 15 assessment hubs that build n the N Secnd Night Out mdel in Lndn, t rapidly assess the needs f peple wh are sleeping rugh r thse wh are at risk f sleeping rugh and supprt them t get the right help. Lcal Lettings Agencies We will fund the setup r extensin f lcal lettings agencies, t help lcal areas t make the mst efficient use f rental accmmdatin, fster the develpment f strng relatinships between landlrds and tenants, and where pssible develp a prperty prtfli t meet the needs f rugh sleepers. Supprted Lettings We will fund flexible flating supprt in hmes prvided fr peple with a histry f rugh sleeping. This will prvide flexible supprt funding t help ver 5,000 peple at risk f rugh sleeping, ver the next tw years, t sustain their tenancies in hmes acrss the husing sectr. Navigatrs We will fund new specialists wh will help peple wh sleep rugh t access the apprpriate lcal services, get ff the streets and int settled accmmdatin. These individuals will wrk with a range f multidisciplinary teams and prvide bth navigatin and c-rdinatin supprt, using strng lcal relatinships, expertise and cllective wrking. At this stage, we are seeking expressins f interest frm authrities that wuld like t be cnsidered as an EA and wuld like t adpt ne r mre f the abve services int their pathway. They must: be able t rapidly deliver new services; have sme/many functining services/pathway elements fr rugh sleepers; have a rugh sleeping prblem and have a prven track recrd f reducing these numbers thugh interventins; and have strng lcal relatinships. Expressins f Interest must reach us by t rughsleepingstrategyeoi@cmmunities.gsi.gv.uk by midnight n the 31 Octber /Mve_On_Fund_Prspectus_Final.pdf 2

3 The Prgramme Overview f the ffer The bjective f the prgramme is t deliver functinal and effective Rapid Rehusing Pathways fr rugh sleepers acrss England, building n the wrk f the RSI. T this end, we will be allcating funding t EAs wh can demnstrate that ne r mre f the interventins that we are funding is missing frm their Pathway. We will therefre be making an assessment f the speed f delivery, prjected utcmes and the prpsed mdel f each interventin, as well as assessing the impact n the Pathway as a whle. Fr example, where a Smewhere Safe t Stay hub is placed, there must be suitable mve n ptins t supprt it. Areas will als want t cnsider lcal need and lcal chrts, t ensure that the pathway is apprpriate fr the area and the demgraphic characteristics f thse wh are experiencing rugh sleeping lcally. We will nt fund wrk that wuld happen anyway. This mney cannt simply tp up an existing prject unless cmmunities can prvide clear evidence that the prpsal wuld nt have happened withut ur funding. In additin, and in recgnitin f the imprtance f effective husing pathways fr ex-ffenders, we will give special cnsideratin t Expressins f Interest that include supprt fr thse with an ffending histry. Early Adpters must be able t deliver services which meet the fllwing criteria: Smewhere Safe t Stay (SStS) We are seeking Expressins f Interest frm lcal authrities and their partners, which have a need fr, and can deliver, an assessment hub in their lcal area and cnsider that this wuld ensure mre peple culd be supprted ff the streets. Building n N Secnd Night Out assessment hubs (NSNO), these centres willprvide a safe emergency envirnment away frm the street which is pen and staffed 24 hurs a day seven days a week t anyne wh presents and is identified as being at imminent risk f r already rugh sleeping. This will be aimed at single peple and cuples withut children wh d nt have pririty need. We expect delivery prviders t be able t implement a rbust triage prcess and capability with skilled staff trained and able t determine thse wh fit this chrt. During a shrt stay (72 hurs) at SStS clients will be fully assessed and have a persnal husing plan aimed at alleviating their husing situatin and preventing them frm rugh sleeping. We expect delivery prviders t be able t implement an assessment with staff trained and able t make assessments f and referrals fr entitlement fr husing, benefits and supprt. SStS prjects can be either crss-lcal authrity r single authrity run. Individuals shuld leave the hub with a single service ffer f a pathway t accmmdatin, which culd include supprted husing, the private rented sectr, scial husing r staying with family r friends. We expect delivery prviders t demnstrate that they have the supprt f ther lcal areas, lcal delivery partners and a range f multidisciplinary teams. Offers f a space in a SStS hub shuld be fr thse with an imminent risk f and thse wh are already rugh sleeping. We expect delivery prviders t 3

4 demnstrate that their service will be part f a pathway that includes assessments f lcal authrity duties, and prvisin f a persnalised husing plan. The space shuld be a shared sit up space but will als need t adhere t minimum/agreed standards t ensure a dignified and safe stay in and envirnment cnducive t engagement and psychlgically infrmed wrking. This is in rder t ensure that nly thse wh really need it will take up the ffer, but als t ensure peple are willing t mve n frm the service and are nt likely t interpret it as an accmmdatin ffer. Prviders will als need t have available sme emergency accmmdatin r rms fr vulnerable peple r fr individuals where a psitive husing utcme is achievable but ver a lnger time scale. The envirnment must be safe and staffed 24hrs a day. Access t shwer and tilet facilities is essential as well as basic facilities t prepare fd and drink. The hubs must have adequate space fr staff teams t wrk frm including interview and assessment rms. We expect delivery prviders t have a suitable building identified, with suitable r imminent planning. As part f the pathway, there must be agreed alternative ffers and cntingencies fr ccasins when the hub is full and shuld nt be seen as the nly ptin. Fr example, n ccasins if the hub is full, arrangements shuld be in place with the lcal authrity in rder t access ther emergency accmmdatin where needed. Optimal case lads wuld be five per wrker per shift/day. Hub space wuld need a clear ptimal capacity - this wuld be driven by building availability and staffing mdels (eg NSNO Lndn hubs have an ptimum capacity f 25 clients at any given time). We expect delivery partners t be able t estimate the use and thrughput f their hub and have cntingency plans. SStS hubs shuld develp rbust data and recrding systems t use t evidence their wrk but als highlight the gaps and challenges lcally and natinally t infrm service and sectr imprvement - including recrding length f stay, reasns fr lng stay, reasns fr risk f rugh sleeping, demgraphics, supprt needs etc. Crucially, all pilt areas will need t recrd utcmes and mve n success. We expect delivery partners t cmmit t mnitring this infrmatin. Supprted Lettings We are seeking Expressins f Interest frm areas which have a need fr additinal funding t prvide tenancy sustainment supprt t sit alngside hmes that are let t rugh sleepers leaving the street,frmer rugh sleepers leaving hstels, and thse at imminent risk f sleeping rugh. We wuld like this funding t encurage landlrds t bring frward new units fr rugh sleepers by building cnfidence in thse wh have cncerns abut taking n peple wh are leaving r wh have recently left the streets. This funding cannt be used fr thse already hused r fr families. We expect delivery areas t demnstrate that they have hmes which culd be utilised by rugh sleepers (PRS, Husing Assciatin, r cuncil hmes) if lw level supprt were available. This supprt is nly fr peple wh have lw/medium needs and will nt be high level enugh fr thse with cmplex needs, thugh areas culd tp this funding up. Areas will need t cnsider whether this is apprpriate fr their lcal ppulatins f rugh sleepers r frmer rugh sleepers in hstels. We expect delivery areas t 4

5 demnstrate that they have a chrt f lw/medium needs rugh sleepers r frmer rugh sleepers in hstels wh culd benefit frm such supprt. Tenancy sustainment supprt culd include, but is nt limited t: Supprt t develp independent living skills; Supprt with learning t manage a tenancy and adhere t tenancy terms, including paying rent; Supprt with learning t budget; Supprt r signpsting t claim benefits; Supprt t develp and cultivate supprt netwrks; Signpsting int wrk r educatin; Signpsting t ther services and agencies fr help and supprt. We expect delivery areas t demnstrate that they have lcal partnerships that will allw them t recruit r cntract suitable supprt wrkers swiftly. Navigatrs We are seeking Expressins f Interest frm lcal authrities and their partners, wh cnsider that their Rapid Rehusing Pathway wuld benefit frm ne r mre navigatrs t supprt rugh sleepers frm their first cntact with services thrugh t settled accmmdatin. Navigatrs will be assigned t rugh sleepers wh wuld benefit frm this kind f tailred supprt. Caselads shuld nt be mre than 20, but culd be lwer. They shuld fllw the client frm street utreach, giving a cntinued single pint f cntact and supprt thrugh pathway systems and thrugh t resettlement supprt. They will fcus nt just n finding a husing slutin but supprting the individual in their recvery t find emplyment, undertake training, develp budgeting skills, cultivate psitive scial circles and be better equipped t maintain their accmmdatin and independence and avid returning t the street. Navigatrs shuld be able t ffer persnalised, creative, innvative and effective supprt and be a single pint f cntact, building trust with clients, wrking in an inclusive way and empwering clients t achieve. We expect delivery areas t demnstrate that they have a rute t recruitment fr flexible (including flexible hurs) and trained navigatrs r advcates. Navigatrs shuld c-rdinate supprt services, wrk with stakehlders and prvide supprt, encuragement and advcacy t enable clients t navigate supprt and accmmdatin pathways in rder t mve away frm the living n the streets. This will require freedm t try different frms f innvative interventins t achieve utcmes, with the full engagement and partnership f lcal agencies. Ideally, Lcal Authrities will assign persnalised budgets t their navigatrs, t ensure they are able t fully and effectively supprt their clients. Navigatrs shuld be able t demnstrate psitive utcmes fr clients ver a tw year perid. We expect delivery areas t demnstrate that their navigatr will have the supprt f key lcal stakehlders and be embedded in a multidisciplinary team wh will supprt and help t c-rdinate their tailred and targeted wrk. Lcal Lettings Agencies We are seeking Expressins f Interest frm lcal authrities and their partners, wh wuld like t set up r expand an existing Lcal r Scial Lettings Agency. These rganisatins r a grup f specialists prvide help fr individuals wh are nt wed a husing duty by the 5

6 lcal authrity and need additinal supprt t access the private rented sectr r ther suitable husing. Lcal Lettings Agencies can prvide a range f services, which can include: Signpsting t lcal services, including depsit services r charities; Advice n renting, tenancy agreements and budgeting; Guidance n supprt services and referrals t husing prviders; Brkering relatinships with lcal landlrds and husing prviders, t create a bank f landlrds wh will let t mre vulnerable tenants; Leasing f prperties and rental guarantees fr landlrds; and/r Managing r hlding a prtfli f prperty t be rented by vulnerable individuals. This new funding will prvide fr the setup f new Lcal Lettings Agencies t prvide this supprt, and the expansin f these services t prvide mre supprt t help peple get int settled accmmdatin, including specialist supprt fr rugh sleepers. This can be established in a dedicated building r as part f a Husing Optins service. We expect delivery partners t demnstrate that they have a clear strategy t ensure that this service will prvide husing utcmes fr vulnerable peple. Whilst Lcal Lettings Agencies can prvide services fr a number f vulnerable grups wh are nt wed a duty f husing by the lcal authrity, this funding will prvide specialist psts t give supprt t rugh sleepers and thse at risk f rugh sleeping. These individuals will have an understanding f the specific issues that face this grup and will have a range f strategies t vercme these challenges t supprt rugh sleepers and thse leaving hstels int settled, apprpriate accmmdatin in all husing tenures. We expect delivery partners t demnstrate that they have a rute t recruitment fr these fficers. Funding Grants will be paid t the apprpriate principal lcal authrity that is supprting the applicatin (under sectin 31 f the Lcal Gvernment Act 2003), but can then be directed t lcal delivery partners. If successful, lcal authrities (r lead authrities) will be given funding fr 2018/19 and be given a prvisinal allcatin fr