Issue - meetings

The report by the Director of Housing, Neighbourhood and Building Services presents the updated draft homelessness strategy which outlines Portsmouth's preventative approach to understanding and responding to customers and residents who face homelessness.

RECOMMENDED that the Cabinet Member for Housing agrees:

(1)  To endorse the council's draft Homelessness Strategy 2018-2023.

(2)  To instruct officers to undertake formal consultation on the strategy with relevant partners and stakeholders.

(3)  That following consultation, officers should return to councillors with a final strategy, and action plan, for agreement.

The Cabinet Member for Housing agreed:

(1)       To endorse the council's draft Homelessness Strategy 2018-2023.

(2)       To instruct officers to undertake formal consultation on the strategy with relevant partners and stakeholders.

(3)       That following consultation, officers should return to councillors with a final strategy, and action plan, for agreement.

Paul Fielding, Assistant Director for Housing, presented the Director of Housing, Neighbourhood and Building Services' report which set out to tackle homelessness, stating 2,382 homeless applications had been received in the previous 2 years (to April 2018).

CLG representative Mada Abrams gave her views on the need to provide further support through training and education.

Councillor Sanders, as Cabinet Member for Housing, responded that the report showed how many people were becoming homeless in circumstances out of their control, such as the end of private rented tenancies, being evicted by family or friends (such as when 'sofa surfing') and those surviving domestic abuse. 

Maria Cole of the Residents' Consortium was pleased to see empty properties being reviewed and was interested in how ex-offenders were treated.

Councillor Sanders stressed that the strategy allowed for the approach to rehousing to be built around the individual and also welcomed the use of empty properties and voids.  The strategy sought to tackle the causes of homelessness and to provide a better service for those experiencing homelessness.  The consultation would go on-line the following day.

DECISIONS - The Cabinet Member for Housing agreed:

(1)       To endorse the council's draft Homelessness Strategy 2018-2023.

(2)       To instruct officers to undertake formal consultation on the strategy with relevant partners and stakeholders.

(3)       That following consultation, officers should return to councillors with a final strategy, and action plan, for agreement.