Agenda item

Report of the Executive Director, Community and Children’s Services.

The Sub-Committee received a report of the Executive Director, Community & Children’s Services, concerning a summary of progress against the aims set out in the Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy 2023-27.

The following points were noted:

• The strategy focuses on preventing homelessness, providing rapid rehousing, and ensuring that rough sleeping is rare, brief, and non-recurring. It aims to deliver tailored support to individuals based on their specific needs.
• Collaboration with various partners, including local authorities, health services, and voluntary organisations, is emphasised to provide comprehensive support to those experiencing homelessness and rough sleeping.
• The strategy outlines the importance of delivering high-quality services that are accessible and responsive to the needs of individuals. This includes outreach services, emergency accommodation, and long-term housing solutions.
• Regular monitoring and evaluation of the strategy's implementation are planned to ensure its effectiveness and to make necessary adjustments based on feedback and outcomes.
• The strategy acknowledges the need for adequate funding and resources to achieve its objectives. It highlights the importance of securing financial support from various sources, including government grants and charitable donations.
• Engaging with the community and raising awareness about homelessness and rough sleeping are considered crucial for the strategy's success. This includes involving local residents, businesses, and other stakeholders in efforts to address these issues.
• Officers explained that LSE (London School of Economics) has an entrepreneur program addressing socio-economic issues and offering practical solutions. They are collaborating on four challenges but haven't worked with academic staff yet.
• Members mentioned the issue of low housing stock in the city and the need for more information to feed into the housing strategy
• Officers agreed to provide more details on the focus of the work with LSE and proposed areas of enquiry and consider bringing a paper to expand on the points discussed.