Presentation given by Lisa Barker, Head of the Homelessness Implementation Team, Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, UK, at a FEANTSA seminar on "Glocalisation of homeless policies? How local authorities can strengthen their homeless strategies through transnational cooperation", Committee of the Regions, May 2006

1. Tackling Homelessness
The Role and Importance of Local
Authorities
Lisa Barker
Homelessness and Housing Support
Department of Communities and local
Government

2. In England: Local Authorities
 354 Housing authorities, who have
 Strategic Enabling Role, as well as
 Statutory duties relating to
homelessness, including
 Requirement to produce a Local
strategy to prevent homelessness
and ensure sufficient
accommodation and support are
available for those who are
homeless or at risk of
homelessness. Expectation to
keep under revision

3. Why Local Authorities
 Central Govt sets framework which is set out in our
strategy
 Local Housing Authorities are uniquely placed within the
community to tackle the problem
 In return for duties, govt awards powers and finance
 Govt sets performance framework, monitors and rewards

4. Partnerships key
 Valuable role and contribution from Third Sector
 LAs should work in partnership with VCS in their area
where they contribute to the strategy
 LAs can consider working in partnership with other LAs
where there are cross boundary issues or where pooling
can increase available resources.

5. How do we work with Local
Authorities
 Set Objectives: Reduce Rough Sleeping, Minimise use of
B&B, Reduce Homelessness against the main causes,
Halve the use of TA by 2010
 Set the law but offer support around implementation
 Best Practice/Beacons/Regional Champions/ DVD
 On Going help and support: Good Practice Guidance, Policy
Briefings, Specialist Advisors
 Commission delivery support and capacity building

6. Success in reducing most
severe problems
2000 14000
12000
1500
10000
1000 8000
6000
500 4000
2000
0
0
19
19
20
20
20
20
20
20
2002
2002
2003
2003
2003
2003
2004
2004
2004
2004
2005
2005
2005
98
99
00
01
02
03
04
05
Q1
Q3
Q3
Q2
Q3
Q4
Q2
Q4
Q1
Q2
Q4
Q1
Q3
Rough sleeping, rest of
England All use of B&B
Rough sleeping, London Families in B&B
Families in B&B over 6 wks

7. We’re starting to see results from
strategies and prevention work
160000
Strategies put in place
140000
Prevention is the key.
120000
100000 New local authority
80000 strategies and prevention
60000 approaches started in 2002
40000
Homelessness falling since
20000
end of 2003
0
Increasing investment in
prevention up to 2007-08
1997-98
1999-00
2000-01
2002-03
2003-04
1998-99
2001-02
2004-05
(projected)
2005-06
and expect further
reductions in homelessness
Homelessness acceptances Placed in temp accom

8. LAs make greater use of their own stock to house homeless
households, RSL stock is used less (2003-04)
60%
50%
40%
Percentage
30%
20%
10%
0%
North Eas t North Wes t Yorks hire & Eas t Midlands Wes t Midlands Eas t London South East South Wes t ENGLAND
Humber
% of LA lettings to homeless households % of RSL lettings to LA-nominated homeless households

9. But here’s the challenge
380000
As social housing
330000
availability has declined,
280000
230000 number of households in
temporary accommodation
180000
has more than doubled
130000
80000 Reached an all-time high of
30000
100,000 in 2004, but
1997-98
2000-01
2001-02
2003-04
2004-05
1996-97
1998-99
1999-00
2002-03
steady since then
Social lettings, England Temp. accom, England Target is to halve number
by 2010.

10. 5 Year Strategy to Reduce
Homelessness
86% of LAs have
more staff preventing 87% of LAs now have
homelessness now
Preventing a rent deposit scheme
homelessness
Supporting Tackling wider
vulnerable people causes & symptoms
Halve use of
Supporting People
temporary
Over £353m for Domestic violence a
accommodation
homelessness factor in 1 in 7
by 2010
homelessness cases
Sustaining reductions Improved access to
In rough sleeping settled homes
£90 million hostels SR04 provided for 50%
improvement programme increase in social housing

11. 5 Year Strategy to Reduce
Homelessness
86% of LAs have
more staff preventing 87% of LAs now have
homelessness now
Preventing a rent deposit scheme
homelessness
Supporting Tackling wider
vulnerable people causes & symptoms
Halve use of
Supporting People
temporary
Over £353m for Domestic violence a
accommodation
homelessness factor in 1 in 7
by 2010
homelessness cases
Sustaining reductions Improved access to
In rough sleeping settled homes
£90 million hostels SR04 provided for 50%
improvement programme increase in social housing

12. Prevention
Up to date info is crucial
 289 have more prevention staff than in 2002
 202 operate a spend to save policy
 249 LA’s have rent deposit/bond schemes
 165LA’s have or plan Sanctuary schemes
 18,471 H/holds prevented Apr/Jun 05
 £21.202m efficiency savings nationally

13. Homelessness is Reducing
Quarter 3 2004 - 2005 P1E Returns
 England 23%  West Midlands 12%
 North East 32%  East 9%
 North West 14%  London 22%
 Yorks & Humber 10%  South East 10%
 East Midlands 7%  South West 12%

14. How is homelessness being prevented?
Cause Action
Parents, relatives or friends exclusions, Mediation/counselling, home visits
relationship breakdown (38%)
Violent relationship breakdown (13%) Sanctuary schemes
End of assured shorthold tenancy (13%) Advice, landlord mediation/ negotiation, rent
deposit/bond
Mortgage or rent arrears (4%) Debt counselling, advocacy in court,
resolving HB problems
Person poorly-equipped to sustain tenancy Advice and support (Supporting People),
(??) life skills, budgeting
Lack of information (??) Early, proactive intervention, advice and
good range of options

15. The Challenge for England
 Recognise target is a challenge – but it is achievable
 B&B target shows what can be done on the ground
 London is leading the way on many prevention initiatives
 Diversity and Flexibility of London and other Housing
Markets
 A threat or an opportunity?

16. What’s the Endgame??
 New emphasis on and
professionalism of advice,
prevention and options,
 Build Capacity and Innovation
within the LG sector
 More households appropriately
housed with access to services
 More households offered options
to prevent homelessness
 But not a zero target
 Settled homes:changing lives