FOI request (FOI-84630229)

Care leavers and homelessness

Requested Wed 28 November 2018
Responded  Wed 28 November 2018

I apply under the terms of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 for the following information about care leavers through the 12 questions making up this request on the following themes:

- Numbers remaining in contact with the local authority post-21

- Incidences of homelessness for care leavers

- Receipt of Discretionary Housing Payments

- The application of Shared Accommodation Rate of Local Housing Allowance

With the data provided from this Freedom of Information request, we plan to make the case to the Department for Work and Pensions and the Department for Education to delay the application of the Shared Accommodation Rate to care leavers from 22, until 25. This is a policy, which central government are keeping 'under review'.

We would be grateful if you could respond and share the information requested in the attached document. This FOI request is being sent to all county councils; district, borough or city councils; unitary authorities, London boroughs and metropolitan boroughs in England.

1. As of 1 April 2018, how many care leavers are living in your area?

a. Aged 18-21

b. Aged22-25

2. Since 1 April 2018, how many care leavers aged 22-25 have got in touch to request the services of a Personal Advisor or support for the following purposes?

a. Total number of care leavers aged 22-25 who got back in touch

b. Number of care leavers aged 22-25 who got back in touch because of housing difficulties or homelessness

3. How many care leavers aged 18-21 presented as homeless to the council in each of the following years?

a. 2015/16

b. 2016/17

c. 2017/18

4. How many care leavers aged 22-25 presented as homeless to the council in each of the following years?

a. 2015/16

b. 2016/17

c. 2017/18

5. How many care leavers aged 18-21 received discretionary housing payments in each of the following years?

a. 2015/16

b. 2016/17

c. 2017/18

6. What was the value of discretionary housing payments paid to care leavers aged 18-21 in each of the following years?

a. 2015/16

b. 2016/17

c. 2017/18

7. How many care leavers aged 22-25 received discretionary housing payments in each of the following years?

a. 2015/16

b. 2016/17

c. 2017/18

8. What was the value of discretionary housing payments paid to care leavers aged 22-25 in each of the following years?

a. 2015/16

b. 2016/17

c. 2017/18

9. How many care leavers aged 18-21 receiving discretionary housing payment (question 5), were living in the private rented sector in each of the following years?

a. 2015/16

b. 2016/17

c. 2017/18

10. How many care leavers aged 22-25 receiving discretionary housing payment (question 7), were living in the private rented sector in each of the following years?

a. 2015/16

b. 2016/17

c. 2017/18

11. What was the total amount of Discretionary housing payment made by the council in each of the following years?

a. 2015/16

b. 2016/17

c. 2017/18

12. How many care leavers aged 22-25 that received Discretionary Housing Benefit had the shared accommodation rate limit applied to their housing benefit entitlement in each of the following years?

a. 2015/16

b. 2016/17

c. 2017/18

Response

Please accept my apologies for the delay in responding.

Q1 - Q2

Hastings Borough Council are not responsible for care leavers, this is dealt with by East Sussex County Council, please visit their website for further information: www.eastsussex.gov.uk

Q3 - Q12

NOTICE OF REFUSAL

The information requested in respect of Q3 & 4 would require us to manually search documents on cases to establish whether or not that person is a care leaver and would far exceed the time limit set out by the Information Commissioner therefore under S12 of the Freedom of information Act 2000 provides an exemption from the obligation to comply with a request for information if the estimated costs of complying with that request would exceed the prescribed appropriate limit.

We estimate that the costs of complying with your request would exceed the appropriate limit by a significant amount.

For this reason we feel unable to comply with this request.