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Housing and Homelessness

Housing and Homelessness. The strategic context for Hastings. Homelessness. Significant achievements between 2008-13 Some progress in the general social, economic and physical regeneration of Hastings

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Housing and Homelessness

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  1. Housing and Homelessness The strategic context for Hastings

  2. Homelessness Significant achievements between 2008-13 • Some progress in the general social, economic and physical regeneration of Hastings • Increased homeless prevention has resulted in significant reductions in statutory homelessness acceptances and B&B usage • Improved access to a range of housing options • Additional housing-related support made available for vulnerable households 2

  3. However, Hastings has… • been identified as the 19th most deprived Local Authority in the country • very high levels of economic inactivity • life expectancy below the regional and national average • high benefit dependency levels and wage levels below the regional average • a high proportion of adults on working age benefits • a higher than average numbers in receipt of incapacity benefit/ESA • a third of all households in Hastings claiming Housing or Council Tax benefits • comparatively low educational attainment • teenage conception rate remaining one of the highest in the country • very high levels of deprivation and benefit dependency linked to patterns of pervious inward migration of poorer households 3

  4. Fresh Challenges • Economic downturn • Housing market collapse • Public Sector spending reductions • Impact of Welfare Reform • All claimants seeing changes to the amount they receive or the way it is paid • Changes to HB levels across all tenures • Most households experiencing a reduction in the level of housing benefit • Benefit levels capped for households not in work • Benefits for rent to be included in Universal Credit • Threat of inward migration 4

  5. Homelessness Trends • Significant increase in numbers of homeless applications received • However commensurate increase in homeless preventions • Increase in temporary accommodation use but still historically quite low • Main reasons for homelessness friend and family evictions and end of assured shorthold tenancies 5

  6. Rough Sleeping in Hastings • 15 rough sleepers Nov 2013 • 10 rough sleepers Nov 2012 • 3 rough sleepers Nov 2009 • Relationship breakdown is the primary reason stated for rough sleeping • Approximately 40% of all rough sleepers have come to Hastings from out of the area – whilst some are from East Sussex, others migrate from other areas • There is no obvious pattern of migration from particular areas

  7. How the Council is responding – Homelessness Strategy 2013-15 Strategic priorities include working with partners to: • Further improve our understanding of the local housing market and the causes and reasons for homelessness • Adapt or develop existing housing and related support services in order to tackle emerging trends and priorities • Ensure fair access to social housing • Improve access to well managed PRS accommodation • Ensure a range of housing advice and assistance is available to prevent and minimise homelessness and rough sleeping 7

  8. Housing Tenure • Owner occupation is low compared with the rest of East Sussex and the South East average • House prices remain below the regional average • Social housing numbers are slightly lower than the regional average and supply is insufficient to meet demand • The private rented sector is considerably larger than the rest of East Sussex and is close to double the national average (higher in certain Wards) • A third of all private rented accommodation in the county is located in Hastings • There are issues with affordability and quality of accommodation in the private sector • New house building is picking up but remains sluggish after housing market collapse

  9. Social Housing • Demand far outstrips supply • Approx 350 new lets annually • Approx 70 new social units annually • New HBC Allocations Scheme 2012 (prompted by Localism Act) • Housing Register reduced from 5,500 households to 800 • Local people in housing need given added priority • Local Lettings Policy in the ‘seven streets’

  10. Private Rented Sector • The tenure of ‘choice’ for some, and increasingly the only option for others • Of major importance to the Council in discharging its homelessness responsibilities • Issues with access and cost for low income households • Evidence of poor repair and management, including rogue landlords • Expanding sector (30% +) which has nearly doubled over ten years • 50% of private lets are in the Central St Leonards area • Estimated 2800 HMOs of which 85% are concentrated in four Wards • Poor internal layouts and conservation status can deter investment and add to costs

  11. Strategic InterventionContinued focus on regeneration and narrowing the gap • Additional licensing of HMOs in four Wards - Braybrooke, Castle, Central St Leonards and Gensing • Possible extension of licensing of all private rented properties in some locations being considered • Re-declaration of the St Leonards renewal area and proactive enforcement programme • Acquisition of poor quality housing in St Leonards through Coastal Space Project • Empty homes and CPO programme • Further development of Local Lettings Agency approach • New Local Plan and Affordable Housing policies adopted • Anti Poverty Strategy and Action Plan adopted • Strategic links and partnerships being developed with other coastal towns eg: Thanet and Tendering Councils • Local Enterprise Partnership (SELEP)

  12. Frontline Action • Options Officers co-located in the Prison, Probation, Conquest Hospital, Seaview and Snowflake night shelters • Family Keywork Project (16 & 17 year old homeless) • Rogue Landlord Project • Rough sleeper projects, including Seaview outreach, SHORE, Broadway outreach commencing Feb 2014 • Sanctuary Scheme • Financial assistance to access PRS (DESSS) • Big Lottery Project – multiple and complex needs • Sussex Central YMCA empty homes project 12

  13. Our commitment to our partners • We will continue to improve inter-agency partnership working • We will ensure our resources are maximised and targeted effectively and efficiently to avoid duplication of service provision • We will re-engineer existing services, or develop new services where resources are available, to tackle homelessness • We will strive to provide fair and equal access to services for all 13

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