Homelessness Prevention: the current reality, and how data can inform and improve practice Joy Williams LA Homelessness and Supporting People Network
Background/Context The Ten Year Homelessness Plan reflects increasing Government focus on prevention over last ten years Programme for Government committed to review and changes in law Review 2011/12 found that current law not fit for purpose Law needed reform to focus on prevention and achieving solutions for all homeless people, working with people to help them find solutions to their problems as early as possible
Welsh Government Vision Help for everyone at risk or homeless Early intervention to prevent crises Less emphasis on priority need Making best use of all resources including private rented sector Working with people to help them find the best housing solution Partnership working across organisations and services to achieve sustainable solutions
Legislative Process White Paper May 2013 Bill published November 2013 Committee and plenary stages-some changes Becomes Housing (Wales) Act 2014-17th September 2014 Secondary legislation progress Statutory Code of Guidance progress Implementation date - 27th April 2015
Housing (Wales) Act 2015 (Part 2) 62 Duty to assess (1) A local housing authority must carry out an assessment of a person s case if (a) the person has applied to a local housing authority for accommodation or help in retaining or obtaining accommodation, (b) it appears to the authority that the person may be homeless or threatened with homelessness, and (c) subsection (2) does not apply to the person. (2) This subsection applies if the person has been assessed by a local housing authority under this section on a previous occasion and the authority is satisfied that (a) the person s circumstances have not changed materially since that assessment was carried out, and (b) there is no new information that materially affects that assessment.
Housing (Wales) Act 2015 (Part 2) The duty to help to prevent (66) The duty to help to secure (73)
Housing (Wales) Act 2015 (Part 2) 66 Duty to help to prevent an applicant from becoming homeless (1) A local housing authority must help to secure that suitable accommodation does not cease to be available for occupation by an applicant if the authority is satisfied that the applicant is (a)threatened with homelessness, (b) eligible for help.
Housing (Wales) Act 2015 (Part 2) 73 Duty to help to secure accommodation for homeless applicants (1) A local housing authority must help to secure that suitable accommodation is available for occupation by an applicant, if the authority is satisfied that the applicant is (a) homeless, and (b) eligible for help.
Housing (Wales) Act 2015 (Part 2) Section 64: How to secure or help to secure the availability of accommodation
Housing (Wales) Act 2015 (Part 2) (a) by arranging for a person other than the authority to provide something; (b) by itself providing something; (c) by providing something, or arranging for something to be provided, to a person other than the applicant. Examples: (a) mediation; (b) payments by way of grant or loan; (c) guarantees that payments will be made; (d) support in managing debt, mortgage arrears or rent arrears; (e) security measures for applicants at risk of abuse; (f) advocacy or other representation; (g) accommodation; (h) information and advice; (i) other services, goods or facilities.
Flintshire pilot
Piloting Reasonable Steps A Partnership Approach Case Study Two RD is a Flintshire County Council tenant with a secure tenancy. Living at the property with RD is his wife and four dependent children. A Suspended Possession Order was made in 2008. The household had fallen into rent arrears of just over 2,000 due to previous employment on a zero hours contract. RD was receiving no hours during January 2014 to March 2014, and was advised he was not eligible for assistance from the Job Centre as he was being treated as employed and had no proof that he was not earning. RD has now secured a permanent, full-time job as an electrician on the minimum wage and is in receipt of Working and Child Tax Credits and Child Benefit. FCC applied for a Warrant of Eviction as they were unaware of RD s circumstances. The Income Officer approached the Housing Options team to advise of the eviction due to there being four children in the household. RD s case was immediately taken on by Housing Options, Accommodation Support and the Shelter Cymru adviser.
Piloting Reasonable Steps A Partnership Approach Action FCC Welfare Rights team assisted RD to make a Housing Benefit application and submitted a request to have the award of Housing Benefit backdated to January 2014 when RD had nil-income. The Shelter Cymru adviser attended the RD s Court hearing where the eviction warrant was suspended on terms that RD paid his weekly rent plus 5 per week to reduce the arrears. The application for backdated Housing Benefit also reduced the arrears by 867. If the backdate request had been unsuccessful, the Housing Options Service had offered to clear a sum off the arrears through the use of their homelessness prevention funds.
Piloting Reasonable Steps A Partnership Approach Outcome RD s homelessness prevented and the family were kept in their home with strong security of tenure. FCC also benefits as arrears have been reduced by 867 and a large family has not needed to access expensive temporary accommodation. This is a particularly good outcome in view of new Housing Act and not finding families to be intentionally homeless.
Piloting Reasonable Steps A Partnership Approach Reasonable Steps Specialist advice utilised Referral to welfare rights to maximise in-work social security income Homeless prevention fund offer to clear some of the arrears (if HB backdate had been unsuccessful) Accommodation support offered.
Piloting Reasonable Steps A Partnership Approach Case Study Three RR is an assured short hold tenant with RSL since March 2014. RR is 19 with very limited life skills. He has been in the property six months and already on a final warning for anti-social behaviour. There are allegations of friends staying in the property, making threats to other tenants in the buildings and use of weapons in the building. A section 21 is issued by the housing association but not expiring until March 2015 (end of the fixed term.) RR has an intensive support mentor who is of the opinion that RR cannot maintain a tenancy as he has no control over his friends, has a very young mind-set and has also accrued fuel debts as is unable to budget. There are no arrears as tenant receives full housing benefit. Incidents appeared to be escalating as friends are now staying with him and housing association in the process of applying to court for an anti-social behaviour injunction excluding him from his home.
Piloting Reasonable Steps A Partnership Approach Action Discussions were held with RR, his intensive support mentor, housing options team, the Shelter Cymru worker, and the RSL. All were in agreement that the current tenancy is probably not sustainable for RR in the longer term. In addition if he was evicted for anti-social behaviour he could be found intentionally homeless. The decision was taken by housing options to refer RR for supported housing that could better meet his needs. RR was subsequently offered a placement in a supported housing project. The RSL agreed to work with the housing options service and delay applying for an injunction to allow time for a more planned move. RR was advised by Shelter Cymru to surrender his tenancy once the offer of supported housing was made, so there would be no issues in the future regarding access to housing, and there was no action taken by the RSL regarding ASB or eviction. The tenant is now receiving support and is able to apply for future housing when he is ready and able to manage a tenancy independently.
Piloting Reasonable Steps A Partnership Approach Reasonable steps and outcomes Early prevention undertaken (did not make RR wait until he was homeless or at crisis point) Move to more suitable supported accommodation Planned move Prevented injunction and exclusions which would have rendered RR without options later on Homeless Intentionality ignored by the service to achieve the best outcome.
Piloting Reasonable Steps A Partnership Approach Yes the prevention approach is better for customers. For those authorities who do not already provide this service, customers should be given more option and more choice in making decisions about their housing situation. FCC Housing Options Worker
Piloting Reasonable Steps A Partnership Approach One of the main positives is that the prevention success rate is very high. I think a number of innovative practices have been utilised and that most people approaching Flintshire for assistance are getting a very good service. I think we have also made great strides in joint working and linking in with other Flintshire departments, such as the Income Team in particular. Shelter Cymru Pilot Worker
Challenges Culture change Priority need/intentionally homeless Capacity Resources Referrals for support Co-operation from other agencies No local connection
Opportunities Earlier intervention Avoidance of becoming intentionally homeless Reduction in use of temporary accommodation Ability to intervene earlier Duties on other partners to co-operate Improved customer service Improved job satisfaction
Homelessness Prevention: the current reality, and how data can inform and improve practice Thank you for listening Joy Williams joy.williams@swansea.gov.uk