Agenda item - THE ALLOCATION OF DLUHC'S HOMELESSNESS PREVENTION GRANT AND DOMESTIC ABUSE FUNDING AWARDS FOR 2023/24 AND 2024/25

REPORT OF THE SERVICE DIRECTOR – REGULATORY

This report details proposals for the allocation of this funding for specialist homelessness services for local people.

RESOLVED:

(1) That Cabinet approved the allocation of Homelessness Prevention Grant funding as follows:

o Keystage Housing (£134k in 2023/24, £151k in 2024/25)

o OneYMCA (£172k in 2023/24, £172k in 2024/25)

o SADA core housing service (£20k in 2024/25)

o Rough sleeper outreach service (£35k in 2024/25)

(2) That Cabinet approved the allocation of additional Homelessness Prevention Grant funding provided for domestic abuse duties as follows:

o SADA Community Project (£35k in 2023/24 and £36k in 2024/25)

(3) That Cabinet noted the recent DLUHC announcement of a Ukraine Homelessness Prevention Grant top-up for the Council for 2023/24.

REASONS FOR DECISION:

(1) There is an urgent need to secure accommodation-based support services for single homeless people in the district. Adopting the recommendations at 2.1(A), 2.1(B) and 2.1(D) would secure the provision of existing, high quality, local services for the next two years, which is in line with the priorities set out in the Council’s Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy, contained within the Council’s Housing Strategy 2019- 2024.

(2) Domestic abuse remains a significant driver of homelessness. Adopting the recommendations at 2.1(C) and 2.2(A) would extend the core housing service that Survivors Against Domestic Abuse (SADA) provides the Council with for a further year and enable expansion of SADA services into the community. SADA is a local specialist provider of domestic abuse support and accommodation services.

Audio recording – 22:11

N.B. This item was considered ahead of Agenda Item 10.

Councillor Sean Prendergast declared an interest as a trustee of Survivors Against Domestic Abuse (SADA), and therefore left the room for the duration for the item and did not vote on the recommendations.

The Chair invited Sarah Pateman from SADA and Stevenage Borough Council to present.

N.B. A break in proceedings was taken from 19:55 to 20:00

Sarah Pateman gave a presentation with slides, and advised:

· SADA worked closely with North Hertfordshire District Council.

· Services that SADA offer include one to one sessions, agency referrals, safe houses and benefits advice and guidance.

· SADA had worked with private landlords to source safe spaces for victims and survivors of domestic abuse.

· Community Partnership meetings took place every 3 months and were themed.

· Due to the work being done to schools, more referrals have been made and families have been put in safe accommodation, and provided food and vouchers.

· SADA hoped to find an emergency safe space, extend the community deprivation project, provide more training with partners and continue virtual and in-person drop in sessions.

Councillor Elizabeth Dennis commented that SADA provided an invaluable service, and was pleased that a Women’s Centre had been set up in Letchworth.

The following Members asked questions:

· Councillor Amy Allen

· Councillor Steve Jarvis

In response to the questions, Sarah Pateman advised:

· Everyone would be housed in a safe space the same, as well as receiving legal advice.

· SADA was collecting data and surveys on behalf of the Police. Deprivation could come in many forms.

· Councillors were welcome to come to Community Partnership meetings at Settle.

Councillor Elizabeth Dennis commented that it did not matter on the circumstances, SADA would provide a safe space to survivors of domestic abuse. Services were available for everyone.

In the absence of Councillor Prendergast, Councillor Dave Winstanley presented the report entitled ‘The Allocation of DLHUC’s Homelessness Prevention Grant and Domestic Abuse Funding Awards for 2023/24 and 2024/25’ and advised:

· The Homelessness Prevention Grant would total £746k for two years, and the Domestic Funding Awards totalled £71k over two years.

· The funding allocations would allow the organisations to keep providing services.

· The award to SADA was vital in supporting their work, as Domestic Abuse was a cause of homelessness.

The following Members asked questions:

· Councillor Ian Albert

· Councillor Ruth Brown

In response to the questions, Martin Lawrence, Strategic Housing Manager, advised:

· The SADA service was embedded in the Housing Team at the Council.

· The current contract corresponded to the demand, but this would grow.

· The Managing Director had been made aware of £200k of extra provision, which could be used if needed.

· Finances had been looked at thoroughly and scrutinised by the Finance team.

· Fewer than 20 Ukrainian households had approached the Housing team for help. The funding towards that was welcome and the majority was likely to be used on general housing pressures and complex cases.

Councillor Elizabeth Dennis, as Chair, proposed and Councillor Amy Allen seconded, and following a vote, it was: