Agenda, decisions and draft minutes

Councillor Coles had apologised for arriving just after the start of the meeting.

There were no declarations of members' interests.

The purpose of the report by the Director of Housing, Neighbourhood and Building Services is to seek endorsement of the Cabinet Member for Housing's Street Homelessness & Rough Sleepers Partnership Strategy 2018-2020.

RECOMMENDED:

(1)     That the Street Homelessness & Rough Sleepers Partnership Strategy 2018 - 2020 is endorsed;

(2)     That consultation commences on piloting the Accommodation First not Accommodation only model piloted in Portsmouth;

(3)     That a Homelessness Working Group is implemented.

(1)       That the Street Homelessness & Rough Sleepers Partnership Strategy 2018 - 2020 is endorsed;

(2)       That consultation commences on piloting the Accommodation First not Accommodation only model piloted in Portsmouth;

(3)       That a Homelessness Working Group is implemented.

James Hill, Director of Housing, Neighbourhood and Building Services, introduced the report which presented the Street Homelessness & Rough Sleeping Strategy in draft form. An endorsement of the strategy by the Cabinet Member would mark the start of partnership working to develop the delivery model and a recognition that it will only succeed if a genuine partnership is formed between all those that need to work better together.

The local authority, for example the Housing Service, has a part to play in supporting this strategy but without health services, community safety teams, voluntary sector organisations engaged in the model going forward the strategy will only go so far. The Homelessness Working Group (HWG as suggested in recommendation 3) would have an essential role to provide oversight of the strategy and co-ordinate its delivery. The group would need to have the right attendees representing the partnership organisations that need to work differently together to support those that are street homeless as well as preventing homelessness is the first place (section 4 of the report set out suggested membership).

The HWG would consider how to best make the links between its work and the formal partnerships in the City. The National Rough Sleeping Strategy published in August 2018 suggests links to Health and Wellbeing Board (HWB), which James advocated as the HWB oversees much of the commissioned support services. The Safer Portsmouth Partnership will also be keen to remain connected to the work. All of those links will help ensure that the focus on prevention across the wider system is not lost.

James Hill explained the strategy's approach and model (in recommendation 2) of 'accommodation first not accommodation only' with the desire to take the current 'accommodation only' model, for example providing night beds (winter shelter) to one where accommodation and support are linked. There is also a licensed approach and model called 'Housing First' being piloted in a number of local authorities and there will be opportunities to learn from those pilots as the model develops. He stressed that the terminology for the model here is not fixed. What was clear from discussions with partners is agreement that there can be better join up accommodation and support, so the Homelessness Working Group would be well placed to build on the current learning and develop the model that best suits the needs in Portsmouth.  

James Hill endorsed Councillor Sanders' introduction in the strategy in thanking all of those that have been involved to date. He thanked the Salvation Army and the Society of St James', both of whom set up and provided the winter shelter at relatively short notice and supported the extension early this year so that there is now a night bed scheme all year round in Portsmouth.

Tackling street homelessness and rough sleeping is an area where there is cross party support and it was evident that there is a real desire in the voluntary sector and statutory agencies in the City to support those that are street homeless. The  ...  view the full minutes text for item 17.