Presentation given by Mairi Keddie, Planning, Partnerships and Commissioning Manager, Edinburgh City Council at a FEANTSA seminar on "The impact of the economic crisis on tackling homelessness at local level", hosted by the Committee of the Regions, May 2009

1. City of Edinburgh Council
Delivering the Homelessness
Strategy

2. Edinburgh Context -Demographics
Scotland’s capital city 600000 2.2
500000 2.1
Population – 468,070 and 400000 2.0
growing
300000 1.9
Households - 213,630. 200000 1.8
Increase to 288,500 in 2031 100000 1.7
0 1.6
Average household size will 2006 2011 2016 2021 2026 2031
reduce to 1.82 people in 2031. Projected Population Projected Households
Projected Household Size

3. Edinburgh Context Housing
65% owner occupation
Largest private rented sector
in Scotland -17%
16% council and housing
association
58% of properties are flats

4. Shortage of Affordable Housing
12,000 new affordable homes needed over 10
years
27,000 people on Edindex – Edinburgh’s
housing register
154 bids per council house
5,000 homeless presentations each year

5. Homelessness Presentations
Homelessness Presentation and Council Lets
6000
5000
4000
Cases
3000
2000
1000
0
2002/03 2003/04 2004/05 2005/06 2006/07 2007/08
homeless presentation CEC Lets

6. Homelessness Strategy
First Homelessness Strategy focussed on tackling
crisis
– Rough Sleepers Initiative
– Supporting People
Outcome
– Reduction in rough sleeping
– Crisis management services in place
But still high level of presentations

7. New Homelessness Strategy
Preventing homelessness
Finding a home
Keeping a home

8. Procurement context
Less money – need to be
more efficient
Need to demonstrate that
value for money and
quality have been tested
Open tendering regarded
as best approach

9. Approach to procurement
High focus on quality (70%)
Outcomes delivery
Link to wider strategy and sustainment
Added value

10. Focus of new services
Outcomes
– prevent homelessness
– customers access the private rented sector.
– customers sustain accommodation
– customers access temporary accommodation
– customers access training, employment, and
volunteering
– customers access primary health care services.

11. What we have achieved –
Presentations down
6000 0.6
0.5
5000 0.4
0.3
4000 0.2
0.1
3000 0
2002- 2003- 2004- 2005- 2006- 2007- 2008-
2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009
Homeless Presentation % housed

12. What we have achieved –
New Services
Prevent 500 hours of preventative
homelessness visiting support
Housing advice service
(3000 households)
Finding a home Crisis centre
Private rented sector
Keeping a home General and complex
needs support
Establish a home

13. Key lessons
Strategy
Time
Registration issues
Monitoring in transition
Focus on outcomes
Strong relationships

14. Issues to consider
Ensures strong link to Transition potentially
strategy unsettling
Demonstration of best Hard work but easier once
value/quality up and running
Allows innovation Could limit flexibility
Commissioning on an open Current negative views of
and transparent basis tendering
Delivery open to all Flexibility
providers