FOI request (FOI215354)

Homelessness support/Homelessness Reduction Act

Requested Fri 09 June 2017
Responded  Fri 09 June 2017

I am seeking information about homelessness support and services at your council, and details of your council's preparation plans for new duties in the Homelessness Reduction Act.

Part One

Homelessness support

Could you please send me the following information about funds and services at your council:

1) Details of all homelessness prevention funds or financial assistance used to prevent homelessness at your council (excluding discretionary housing payments).

2) Details of all specific homelessness intervention and prevention support services offered by your council.

3) Details of any deposit/rent support schemes or similar assistance that your borough offers for people who need help securing a tenancy (excluding any such assistance made available through DHPs).

4) Details of any tenancy liaison-type services that your borough provides between prospective LHA tenants and private sector landlords.

5) Details of any companies, agencies or organisations that the council owns or works with which offer private rental housing options for people who receive housing benefit or Universal Credit.

6) Any lists the council has of private landlords and/or agencies which it offers to tenants who claim housing benefit or Universal Credit and are looking for private rented accommodation.

Part Two:

Homelessness Reduction Act

I am requesting any information the council can provide regarding any proposed changes to council service provision as a result of new and extended duties in the Homelessness Reduction Act.

1) Does the council plan to:

- Extend or alter the structure of its housing options service to accommodate the act's new and extended prevention duty period? 

Please give details: for example, does the council plan to add or create new service provision departments or roles to directly assist with prevention of homelessness in the extended "threatened with homelessness period."

Does the council plan to outsource such services, or to work in partnership with other councils/partners for provision?

2) From what funding streams would the council fund such extra service provision? Is adequate funding available?

3) How does the council plan to advise people of act changes (LHA claimants, UC claimants etc)?

4) How does the council plan to extend homelessness prevention advisory services, or engage providers of such advisory services to meet new and extended duties in the act re: provision of advisory services? 

5) Protection of property

Does the council have the financial resources to extend this service to encompass protecting the property of all eligible homeless as per the act? What form would this protection take (would it involve paying for storage facilities, etc)

Response

Part 1 1. Details of all homelessness prevention funds or financial assistance used to prevent homelessness at your council (excluding discretionary housing payments). See published Budget (Appendix P) (4000, 4001, 4025, 4050, 4051, 4055) http://www.hastings.gov.uk/content/my_council/budgets_finance/budgets_finance/HBC_Budget_2017-18.pdf 2. Details of all specific homelessness intervention and prevention support services offered by your council. Housing Options Team - http://www.hastings.gov.uk/housing/vulnerable/accessing_housing_options/ Letstart Letting (Social Lettings Agency) - http://www.letstartletting.com/ 3. Details of any deposit/rent support schemes or similar assistance that your borough offers for people who need help securing a tenancy (excluding any such assistance made available through DHPs). See (1) above, 4051 - Discretionary East Sussex Support Scheme - rent in advance and deposit scheme administered by Hastings Borough Council. 4. Details of any tenancy liaison-type services that your borough provides between prospective LHA tenants and private sector landlords. Letstart Letting (Social Lettings Agency) - http://www.letstartletting.com/ 5) Details of any companies, agencies or organisations that the council owns or works with which offer private rental housing options for people who receive housing benefit or Universal Credit. None 6) Any lists the council has of private landlords and/or agencies which it offers to tenants who claim housing benefit or Universal Credit and are looking for private rented accommodation. Please see attached document Part 2 1) Does the council plan to: - Extend or alter the structure of its housing options service to accommodate the act's new and extended prevention duty period? Please give details: for example, does the council plan to add or create new service provision departments or roles to directly assist with prevention of homelessness in the extended "threatened with homelessness period." Does the council plan to outsource such services, or to work in partnership with other councils/partners for provision? Information not held - this is not a request for recorded information. 2) From what funding streams would the council fund such extra service provision? Is adequate funding available? Information not held -  this is not a request for recorded information. 3) How does the council plan to advise people of act changes (LHA claimants, UC claimants etc)? Information not held -  this is not a request for recorded information. 4) How does the council plan to extend homelessness prevention advisory services, or engage providers of such advisory services to meet new and extended duties in the act re: provision of advisory services? Information not held -  this is not a request for recorded information. 5) Protection of property Does the council have the financial resources to extend this service to encompass protecting the property of all eligible homeless as per the act? What form would this protection take (would it involve paying for storage facilities, etc) Information not held -  this is not a request for recorded information.

Attachments

• FOI215354_Estate_Agents_in_Hastings_and_St_Leonards.doc