Agenda item

The Committee scrutinised a report of the Principal Homelessness Strategy Officer, which explained that Oldham’s Homelessness Prevention and Reduction and Strategy 2021-26 had now been in place for nearly one year and provided an update on progress so far with regards to the implementation of actions within the Delivery Plan.

Local authorities had a statutory responsibility to publish a Homelessness Strategy based on a review of homelessness in their district at least every five years; Oldham’s current Strategy was approved by Cabinet in October 2021. The Strategy was accompanied by a Delivery Plan which was kept under review by a multi-agency monitoring group; updates to the Delivery Plan were influenced by factors including trends in homelessness presentations, changes in legislation and other local plans and policies. Good progress had been made towards achieving actions in the Delivery Plan during the first year despite challenging circumstances including increasing homelessness both locally and nationally. However, it was anticipated that these challenges would continue as the cost-of-living crisis impacted alongside growing demand for affordable housing – making early intervention, prevention and partnership working increasingly important.

Year One of the Homelessness Prevention and Reduction Strategy Delivery Plan had established eight actions for completion by April 2022. Six of these actions were delivered on time, with two moved to a later date due to awaiting the outcome of funding bids.

The Year One Plan had a particular focus on recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic, including promoting advice to landlords and tenants to help prevent eviction and/or promote planned moves, building resources within the frontline Housing Options Team, and responding to particularly affected groups including rough sleepers and people leaving institutions such as hospitals and prisons. The plan also sought to respond to changes in legislation brought about by the Domestic Abuse Act and the new duties this placed on local authorities to provide support to victims in safe accommodation.

The Committee was informed that the main three reasons for homelessness in Oldham had remained the same for several years, being: exclusion by family; loss of private rented accommodation; and domestic abuse. Oldham and some neighbouring Greater Manchester authorities also had slightly higher levels of presentations from households leaving the Home Office’s accommodation due to the numbers of placements made into the area. There was a relatively high number of presentations from people leaving institutions. This point could though have been due to effective pathways built via partnership working to help prevent rough sleeping and repeat homelessness for these households.

The Committee discussed the report in some detail, seeking clarification on the use of houses of multiple occupation (HMO’s), the numbers of people presenting as homeless who were either disabled or elderly, the funding of the ‘bed every night’ initiative and how to maximise external funding opportunities.

Resolved:

1.    That the report be noted.

2.    That a further update report, regarding the Homelessness prevention and Reduction Strategy be presented to the Committee in approximately 12 months.

3.    That the Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Housing be encouraged to seek to maximise funding opportunities from the Local Housing Allowance.

4.    The Principal Homelessness Strategy Officer be requested to circulate to members of the Committee information relating to the numbers of disabled and elderly people in the Borough who were presenting as homeless.