Agenda item

Report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services

The Board received the report seeking approval from Members for the Homelessness Strategy 2014–2019. Members noted that the Homelessness Act 2002 required the City of London to review homelessness in its area and develop a local strategy every five years. This report introduced to Members the third City of London Homelessness Strategy developed in response to this legislative requirement.

Officers informed Members that the strategy identified five strategic priorities developed through consultation with Members, external and internal stakeholders, and users of homeless services in the City or supported by the City. These were:

• preventing homelessness

• ending rough sleeping

• increasing the supply of and access to accommodation

• delivering outstanding integrated services

• improving the health and wellbeing of homeless people.

Members noted that for each priority the strategy identified what would be done to address the key challenges of that priority. The nature and complexity of homelessness was such that delivery of this strategy would require the commitment, response and resources of a number of partner agencies and City of London services – including policing, health providers, environmental services, voluntary sector providers and a range of services within the Department of Community and Children’s Services.

Members noted that begging and homelessness in the City needed to be directly addressed with responsible bodies clearly defined. Social inclusion had not been investigated though Members agreed this was an important part of interacting with those who felt excluded.

RESOLVED: That Members approved the Homelessness Strategy.