Issue - meetings

Purpose of Report

To provide an overview of the Lincolnshire County Homelessness Strategy 2017 – 2021 and seek approval of the Strategy.

Decision

That the Executive endorses the Lincolnshire Homelessness Strategy 2017 – 2021 and the intention to develop a detailed action plan.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected

None.

Reason for Decision

The Lincolnshire County Homelessness Strategy Group had worked together to undertake a review of homelessness within the area and to produce the third countywide strategy. A range of stakeholders had been consulted throughout the process.

It was noted that five themes had emerged as part of the strategy, as follows:

·         partnership – developing and maintaining strategic partnerships;

·         prevent – preventing homelessness wherever possible;

·         protect – the most vulnerable from homelessness including rough sleeping;

·         place – ensuring the right housing solutions for households;

·         possibility – working towards a sustainable future for supported housing.

A countywide delivery plan, which required work from each local authority both individually and as a partnership, was under development to address these themes. Progress against the action plan would be co-ordinated and monitored through the Lincolnshire County Homelessness Strategy Group and District Housing Network.

Emerging challenges for the City of Lincoln were noted as follows:

·         access to affordable housing options for all client groups but especially single persons aged under 35, reliant on Housing Benefit or Local Housing Allowance;

·         increase in rough sleeping;

·         general private sector housing access;

·         implementation of the Homelessness Reduction Act.

Members agreed that the Council needed to maintain a local perspective, reflecting that Lincoln was very different to other parts of the county. The subsequent action plan would detail how those issues identified in the Strategy would be addressed across the county.

It was emphasised that the Strategy related to families or individuals presenting themselves to the authority as homeless and did not relate to rough sleepers, which, legislatively, were considered as two separate issues. Reference was made to the Social Impact Bond, which commenced in September 2017, and the important support it provided to rough sleepers. Despite it still being very early in the life of the scheme, it was agreed that an update on the impact of the Social Impact Bond should be submitted to the Executive and that Members should receive regular update reports.