Agenda item

This report provides an update on progress being made to tackle high demands for homeless temporary accommodation, and the use of bed and breakfast provision.

Contact:  Sarah Holmes, Head of Housing Services, Tel 01484 221000.  

Cllr Moses Crook, Portfolio Holder for Transport and Housing, introduced the agenda item, advising the Panel that the information being presented, provides an update on temporary accommodation and bed and breakfast use in Kirklees. The report outlines the work being undertaken to address homelessness and temporary accommodation provision in Kirklees.  This work is carried out by the Housing Solution Service and funded through the general fund.  By way of clarification this is completely distinct from the landlord service, which is funded through rents and service charges, and has independent and ringfenced finances.

The Panel was informed that presentation of homelessness, usually results in the council having a duty to provide accommodation, and there has been a significant increase in these presentations nationally over recent years due to a range of factors.  For example, the cost-of-living crisis and a reduction in the availability of social housing stock.

This has resulted in an acute homelessness and temporary accommodation crisis nationally, with 130,000 households now in temporary accommodation, including 170,000 children, at a total cost to councils of £2.8 billion in 2024/2025.  In Kirklees the cost was approximately £7.6 million, however more importantly, the impact of this housing insecurity on families is profound.  Without secure and appropriate housing, people cannot benefit fully from opportunities in education or training, access jobs or support networks, eat healthy meals and other factors.

Experiencing homelessness, particularly when placed in unsuitable bed and breakfast accommodation, can prevent individuals from rebuilding their lives. In Kirklees, there has been a consistent focus on reducing this demand in order to invest in residents and ensure that everyone, especially vulnerable groups and children, has the best opportunity to thrive. The report provides an update on these efforts and the progress achieved to date.

Cllr Crook, summarised some of the achievements advising the Panel that: -

-       There has been a 20% reduction in the presentation of homelessness due to interventions upstream

-       There has been a reduction in the use of bed and breakfast in the same time frame due to additional provision of more appropriate accommodation of 20%

-       By prioritising the most vulnerable, there has been a larger reduction in the number of families with children in bed and breakfast, a reduction of 58%.

Sarah Holmes, Head of Housing Services, reminded the Panel that the Council has a statutory duty to provide temporary accommodation to homeless households. This duty applies when a household is assessed as being at the point of homelessness and is also deemed a priority need.

The Panel was informed that the duty to provide temporary accommodation does not apply to every homeless household. For those who are not owed this duty, the Council has a range of other duties to support them, including assisting them to secure alternative accommodation and working to prevent homelessness by helping them remain in their current home where possible.

The Panel was informed that a number of interventions have been put in place to try and tackle the increasingly high demand for temporary accommodation. Over the last year in particular, there has been real progress in terms of reducing temporary accommodation and bed and breakfast usage in Kirklees.  Some of the interventions implemented include:

-       Significant investment in additional staffing capacity, to have greater management oversight of temporary accommodation placement to make sure greater prevention alternatives are sourced for people that might otherwise need to be put in temporary accommodation.

-       There has been a full review of Housing Solutions Services, which was informed by expert advisers.  This has led to much better outcomes in terms of face-to-face assessments, delivering a more person-centred service when people approach for assistance, when they find themselves threatened with homelessness.

-       There has been an enhanced approach to helping people find alternative housing in the private rented sector.  This is important because social housing has been reducing in terms of availability over the last few years.  This is not just exclusive to Kirklees it is also happening nationally where there is less social and affordable housing available.  There is therefore a need to look to the private rented sector and help people find suitable quality and affordable alternatives in the private rented sector.  Some good strides have been made in Kirklees in enhancing those private rented options, which has meant that people have not spent as long in temporary accommodation, or they have not needed to go into temporary accommodation in the first place.

It is also important to recognise that the council has been proactive in trying to secure more suitable forms of temporary accommodation, to ensure that people don’t have to spend as long in bed and breakfast type accommodation which is the least suitable form of temporary accommodation. The council has been successful in expanding a lease programme using some former surplus student accommodation which has been re purposed to use as family temporary accommodation particularly over the summer.

Looking ahead, a number of challenges remain. There are still more households in bed and breakfast accommodation than desired. The aim is to reach a position where no families with children are placed in such accommodation except in exceptional circumstances. Progress is being made towards this target, and this will remain a key focus over the coming months and years.

There are challenges arising from the need to source more social housing, alongside trying to source more private rental accommodation.  There are also some important changes coming in with the Renters Rights Act that recently received royal assent.  Over the next year the main provision of the Act will come into force which will make significant changes to the private rented market.  It is hoped that this will have long-term positive impacts giving greater security for people who might otherwise have faced homelessness from the private rented sector.  The council recognises the need to do more in terms of expanding the option to lease more accommodation to use as self-contained temporary accommodation.  There is a need to improve the delivery of new affordable and social housing for long-term accommodation.

The Panel was informed that it has been a difficult year or two in terms of homelessness demand in Kirklees, however Housing Solutions Service and all its partners have made positive inroads into turning the trend of temporary accommodation and in particular reducing the use of bed and breakfast.

In response to the report and the information presented, the Panel asked a number of questions and made comments including some of the following:

-       It is encouraging that the number of families in bed and breakfast has more than halved and the ambition of zero families being in that position is very positive.  Is there a realistic timescale for achieving that and what are the potential barriers?

-       It is good to see a reduction in homeless families being placed in bed and breakfast accommodation and would like to thank the team for achieving that.  Having considered some of the main causes of homelessness, for example, lack of affordable housing, welfare reform, relationship breakdown, domestic abuse, mental health substance misuse, and generally people with a range of complex needs.  Some councils have formed an alliance where they work together to with partners to provide clothing, housing, and medical needs.  What is the council doing to address all the whole issues which is often about more than just affordable housing?

-       Do people who are at risk of, or on the verge of becoming homeless, know who to contact?  Is there a central contact point and is it publicised?

-       Has any dedicated work been done at understanding the root causes in the increase of people presenting in crisis to Housing Solutions?

-       Does the council provide help with bond money to support people who presenting as homeless to move into private rental accommodation?

-       In terms of housing, how does the service balance the need of a refugee with someone who is a permanent resident.  Is there a priority order in which they are considered?

-       A local resident lives in a large council house and wanted to move into a one bed bungalow and the request was refused.  What is the council doing to make best use of the available housing and utilising homes that are under occupied?

RESOLVED:

That the Cabinet Member and officers be thanked for providing an update on Temporary and Accommodation/Bed and Breakfast in Kirklees.