Agenda item

The Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing and Strategic Housing presented the Homelessness Prevention Grant and Domestic Abuse Grant for Members’ consideration.

In doing so the following was highlighted:

·       This was an annual report that provided Members with information regarding the allocation of the Homelessness Prevention and Domestic Abuse Grant available in 2024/25. In total there was £339,261 available to allocate to organisations to provide a package of support and services to prevent homelessness and support those who became homeless. Included in this allocation was a £35,000 Domestic Abuse Grant. The report was being considered earlier than usual by Members. This was due to the increased costs incurred by the organisations carrying out support work in this area and the cost of living crisis.

·       During the funding round a bid from BEAM had been received for £20,000 to support individuals into the private rented sector. However, the Council had considered that rentals in the private sector to households on benefits were out of range due to the Local Housing Allowance Rate being frozen at 2020 levels and landlords increasing rents significantly when re-letting due to the cost of living crisis and having to meet increased mortgage repayments. The BEAM scheme was seen as a duplication of a service already provided by the Council and BDHT Housing Options team and therefore the bid had not been selected for the municipal year 2024/25.

·       A bid from CCP for a Rough Sleeper Outreach Service was still under consideration whilst a potential different way of delivering the service was being explored.

Following the presentation of the report, the Strategic Housing Manager explained that there had been a slight amendment to the report regarding the current challenges being faced by voluntary organisations. The amendment was noted as follows:

“These are voluntary organisations and without this funding it was unlikely this support would be offered or available which in turn would lead to increase direct revenue costs for the Council. Their prevention role was crucial in helping people remain in their existing accommodation wherever possible. This was even more relevant due to affordability issues in the private rented sector and mortgages for first time buyers being more difficult to access due to the increase in interest rates, in addition there had been less churn in social housing, so few properties were becoming available and social housing options were very limited”.

Cabinet was further informed that St Basil’s had been unsuccessful in their supported housing procurement. This would look to be resolved by them in six to twelve months’ time and Worcestershire County Council (WCC) were working with them to resolve this issue. It was confirmed that Worcestershire Childrens’ First were providing the support in this area.

Members queried the anticipated underspend of £23,500 that had been noted in the report. Officers explained that these monies were anticipated to be received as a result of the housing benefits that were received back to the Council through the use of the ‘Crash Pad’ service.

In terms of the allocation of £35,000 for those who suffered domestic abuse some Members queried whether this allocation was enough, particularly in light of the need to remove those who suffered domestic abuse from their property to ensure safety.

It was clarified that due to the implementation of the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 the preference was to keep those who suffered domestic abuse in their own property and remove those who perpetrated the abuse. Extra funding had been allocated at a County level in order to do this.

Officers provided information regarding the current pressures experienced on service providers due to a lack of accommodation for homeless and rough sleepers. In particular it was noted that BDHT were working hard with young people and looking for alternative ways to provide help due to the change in needs that were currently being experienced, this included engaging with rough sleepers in more rural areas.

It was confirmed that last year there were zero rough sleepers within the District. It was thought that this would be the case following this year’s rough sleeper count. Officers explained that if it were more than zero this year it would not be significantly higher.

Following the consideration of the report the Strategic Housing Manager was thanked for all of her hard work in this area and particularly in the strong partnership work she and the team undertook.

RESOLVED that

1)    the initiatives in the table below be approved to receive allocation of funding 2024/25.

2)    That delegated authority be granted to the Head of Community and Housing Services following consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Strategic Housing to use any unallocated Grant during the year or make further adjustments as necessary to ensure full utilisation of the Grants for 2024/25 in support of existing or new schemes.