Agenda item

The Strategic Housing Officer presented The Basement Project Aims of Grant Funding for Member’s consideration followed by a brief video which included shared experiences through support offered by the Basement Project.

The report sought to provide an opportunity for Membersto familiarisethemselves withthe aimsand outcomesof the Basement which provided housing related support and other support to young people up to the age of 25. 

The Council supportedthe BasementProject withboth Homelessness Prevention Grant and Domestic Abuse grant funding.  The purposeof theringfenced HomelessnessPrevention Grantfund was to give Local Authorities control and flexibility in managing homelessness pressures and supporting those who were at risk of homelessness. The Government expected Local Authorities to use it to deliver the following priorities:

• Tofully enforcethe HomelessnessReduction Actand contributeto ending rough sleeping by increasing activity to prevent single homelessness.

• Reducefamily temporaryaccommodation numbersthrough maximising family homelessness prevention.

• Eliminatethe useof unsuitablebed andbreakfast accommodation for families for longer than the statutory six-week limit.

DomesticAbuse NewBurdens Grantfunding wasallocated toensure that Councils couldcomply withthe requirementsto provide safeand supported accommodation for those fleeing domestic abuse.

During consideration of the report, Members discussed the following points:

• Members requested a further explanation of how the scheme differentiated between evaluating success relating to support provided for regular clients and non-clients. – Members were advised that the scheme for non-clients provided a drop-in service where there was a requirement i.e. for food, therefore an induction service was unnecessary.  If a client was at crisis point, they would be considered as a regular client, and ad hoc issues were treated as a non-client approach and measured as one case.
• Members also discussed if the Basement Project had a responsibility within fostering and adoption. – Members were advised that there was a corporate parenting and safeguarding body which had a success in delivering and meeting specific requirements.  There was also care leaver support in place as part of the Basement Project initiatives.
• Housing outcomes were discussed with the Board and Members queried what support was given to clients being housed in temporary accommodation, especially with the lack of white goods being made available within properties. – The Chief Executive Officer of the Basement Project responded that mediation was provided prior to housing which included sourcing relevant household items necessary.  It was felt that the stress of moving into rented accommodation did have a detrimental effect on some client’s mental health.
• Members queried how in one way specifically the Local Authority could assist with the project. – In response the Basement Project felt that early preventative intervention in schools would be beneficial to have a more holistic approach. 
• The Chairman of the Board raised a query on food bank deliveries being carried out outside the District boundary area and if the Basement Project were aware. – It was explained that a client in the Rubery area had contacted the library to distribute food parcels.  The suggestion was reviewed, and the decision was made that the library was not a suitable approach.  Members noted that there would be a new drop in scheme rolled out in early 2025 to assist with food parcel distribution.
• The Board also reviewed the Council’s statutory duty to combat homelessness, with Members querying the severity of homelessness within the District? – In response Members were advised that providing sufficient temporary accommodation was an issue and that the relevant funding provided was being utilised to tackle the issue.
• The Chairman queried if some residents could be housed in temporary accommodation for up to six months. – In response Members were informed that this occurred only in exceptional circumstances and if a priority requirement.  Members were also advised that St. Basils assisted clients with house shares, if peer support was deemed a beneficial approach.
• The Chairman also raised the question of how grant funding requirements were measured. – It was noted that grant funding requirements were measured by reviewing the relevant outcomes.  The necessary Internal Audit evaluations had been carried out and noted were content with how grant funding needs were measured.
• Members added their thanks for the comprehensive report and efforts of the Basement Project team in helping to provide the skills and support necessary to assist with job opportunities and aspirations to residents.

RESOLVED that the contents of The Basement Project report be noted.