To receive a verbal update from the Head of Housing and Public Protection Service.
Decision:
The Head of Housing and Public Protection Service and the Housing Options Manager gave a verbal update regarding homelessness in Hitchin.
The Chairman thanked the Head of Housing and Public Protection Service and the Housing Options Manager for their presentation.
Minutes:
The Head of Housing and Public Protection Service and the Housing Options Manager gave a verbal update regarding homelessness in Hitchin.
The Head of Housing and Public Protection informed Members that the Housing Team were aware that homelessness was increasing across Hertfordshire and that rough sleeping in Hitchin was also more frequent
The Housing Options Manager informed Members that they had recently commissioned the Haven to carry out a small project to ascertain the level and backgrounds of the rough sleepers across North Herts.
In Hitchin this project had identified 5 rough sleepers, most of whom were known to the night shelter with many having complex needs including drug and alcohol dependency and mental health issues which made them difficult to engage with.
The night shelter aimed to engage with the drop in service at Christ Church as well as with drug and alcohol support agencies.
In respect of the Housing Options Service, once a rough sleeper had been made known to the team, a team member would provide some outreach work and attempt to engage with that person to look at their options for housing whether it be private rented or short term hostel accommodation.
The Head of Housing and Public Protection Service advised that, in respect of the community safety issues, officers were liaising with Hertfordshire Constabulary regarding the proportionate use of enforcement powers.
They were also working on a joint working protocol with the Police to ensure that they deal with any criminality associated with a rough sleeper and that the Community Safety Team use their powers regarding anti-social behaviour where necessary.
He advised that a lot of hostels and shelters in Hertfordshire required complete abstinence but rough sleepers often found this difficult and therefore they were working with the Director of Public Health to commission separate accommodation for those who were unable to abstain in the short term.
Members acknowledged the work being undertaken in respect of rough sleepers, but expressed some concern about those who were living in doorways and refused to move, sometimes becoming threatening to residents.
The Council was empowered to serve Community Protection Notices where there was evidence to support their use.
Members asked how long the Community Protection Notices lasted and whether individuals could return once they had lapsed.
The Head of Housing and Public Protection Service stated that many of the issues raised were straight forward criminal offences, which the Police are empowered to act on. Where behavior causes fear and distress this would be dealt with by the Council, but the primary driver was to try to engage with the person and get them into accommodation so that they could access support services..
A Member commented that there was a large under spend in the budget set aside to accommodate people in bed and breakfast accommodation and queried whether this money could be used to tackle some of the homelessness issues.
The Head of Housing and Public Protection clarified that there was not a separate budget for bed and breakfast accommodation.
The Authority would be receiving additional funding associated withthe implementation of Homeless Reduction Act 2017 when it would become a duty for Council’s to deal with single people who were homeless.
Members were being offered briefing sessions on 4 July 2018 regarding the provisions of the Act and the funds that would be coming to the Authority. A report would be presented to Cabinet in September 2017 that would set out the proposals on how this money would be spent.
Members noted the comments regarding the difficulty in engaging with rough sleepers with alcohol and drug related problems and the difficulty caused by hostels expecting abstinence. It was suggested that a “wet” hostel was key to solving this problem and would be a significant step in helping not only rough sleepers, but the residents in the Town as well.
Members acknowledged the excellent work carried out by the housing and homelessness teams.
The Chairman thanked the Head of Housing and Public Protection Service and the Housing Options Manager for their presentation.