Decision details

The Council had a duty to produce a strategy that sought to tackle homelessness against its main causes, support those who could be, were, or had been homeless, and increase the supply of accommodation to meet identified needs. From November 2019 the Government intended to introduce regulations to require local authorities to produce a Rough Sleeping Strategy.

The Executive considered a revised Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy. The Strategy built on the work of the previous strategies that had been in place since 2002. Whilst many of the challenges remained, there were new actions proposed around welfare reform and single homelessness/rough sleeping, as these had been identified as issues for which some residents need additional support.

Members were reminded that in 2017/18 a Task & Finish Group had reviewed the impact of changes to benefit reforms and had identified a number of action points. It was agreed that the progress on these actions would be reviewed.

Arising from the discussion on the content of the revised Strategy, it was agreed to pursue a suggestion to introduce a tenants’ forum

RESOLVED to adopt the Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy 2019-23, as set out at Annex B to the agenda report, as the Council’s strategic approach to preventing homelessness and supporting those residents who do become homeless.