KEY INFORMATION ISSUE 1: JUNE 2004 A CIH CYMRU POLICY BRIEFING PAPER. No Place like Home Homelessness in Wales

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1 KEY INFORMATION ISSUE 1: JUNE 2004 A CIH CYMRU POLICY BRIEFING PAPER No Place like Home Homelessness in Wales

2 The Chartered Institute of Housing Cymru (CIH Cymru) is publishing this briefing in recognition of the importance of the issue to our members. Homelessness has been identified as a key priority, with increasing numbers of people presenting as homeless, significant pressure on services and insufficient resources to achieve national and local objectives. This Briefing: sets out the challenge currently facing the Assembly Government, local government and partner organisations highlights some of the positive and innovative practice that is in place sets out what the CIH Cymru would like to see provides information on practical resources The Challenge 'You never think it's going to happen to you, but anyone can find themselves living on the street.' (Homeless person) 'I have worked in the field of homelessness a long time.. in the past, there was a feeling that if local authorities got their act together, it would all be alright There really is no slack left in the system we have very little left to give in respect of bricks and mortar' (Local authority officer) 'Many councils are struggling to accommodate people to whom they owe a duty, with a substantial number of people housed in B&B remote from their communities.' (Final report of the National Strategy Task and Finish Advisory Group) People The two charts below show the significant increase in statutory homelessness in Wales since Between 1997 and 2003, there has been: a 47% increase in homeless presentations a 100% increase in homeless acceptances a 215% increase in the use of all temporary accommodation a 486% increase in the use of B&B an 864% increase in the use of homeless at home During this same period, the proportion of local authority lettings going to households accepted as homeless increased from 6% to 17%. 2

3 Homeless presentations and acceptances in Wales, Presentations ,328 13,671 12,436 12,804 13,675 16,042 19,530 Acceptances ,297 4,371 3,695 4,156 5,181 6,427 8, [Source: Welsh Housing Statistics, Welsh Housing Statistics Homelessness Bulletin - based on grossing up figures for first three-quarters of 2003] Homeless households accommodated temporarily, , , , Homeless at Home Bed & Breakfast All temporary accommodation [Source: Welsh Housing Statistics, Welsh Housing Statistics Homelessness Bulletin based on figures at end of third quarter of 2003] As part of putting this briefing together, CIH Cymru contacted five Welsh local authorities. Figures for homeless presentations within these authorities during 2003/04 show an increase of 41% between quarter 4 and quarter 1 as indicated in the following table. 3

4 Authority 2003/04 Q1 2003/04 Q2 2003/04 Q3 2003/04 Q Total 1,345 1,589 1,229 1,893 While some of the increase in homelessness presentations and acceptances can be attributed to the March 2001 Assembly Government secondary legislation extending the priority need groups, some is also due to changes in the housing market. Between 1997 and 2003, Welsh house prices increased by an average of 96%, varying from 47% in Merthyr to 120% in Cardiff. Figures recently published by the Principality Building Society indicate that house prices in Wales rose by over 32% during 2003/04, with the average Welsh house price now 115,287. These increases are resulting in major problems for many first time buyers. 'Recently, we have been receiving homeless applications from households who have been living with family or friends while saving for a deposit to buy a new home, now find themselves priced out of the market and unable to continue with their current living arrangements.' (Local authority officer) 'Applications from higher demand areas are increasing - a result of the impact of the housing market and a lack of suitable affordable housing' (Local authority officer) Right-to-buy is also cited as a problem for authorities reducing the supply of affordable housing. In one rural authority, 249 council-owned properties were sold under the right-to-buy during 2003/04, 4% of the housing stock. Rural authorities face a particular challenge in providing homelessness services to dispersed populations and meeting housing need with a very limited supply of affordable housing. National Policy Framework Better Homes for People in Wales includes a small number of objectives relating to homelessness and housing advice: significantly reducing the numbers of long-term homeless households eliminating the need for rough sleeping promoting and ensuring access to high quality advice services in all areas promoting access to specialist housing advice where this is needed The Assembly Government's National Homelessness Strategy is based on the principle that everyone in Wales should be able to live in a good quality, affordable home. The strategy sets out 22 objectives that the Assembly Government expects to be endorsed within local homelessness strategies. A national policy agreement measure is in place for the period for the reduction of the use of B&B and average length of time spent in temporary accommodation. The aim of policy agreements is to financially recognise good performance by local authorities. However, additional resources will only be provided to each authority if, and when, the measures are achieved. The Assembly Government has recently commissioned a number of pieces of research on homelessness: a review of the implementation of the homelessness legislation - published in January 2004 setting out a large number of recommendations to the Assembly, local government and partner organisations guidance on preventative action to reduce the probability of homelessness housing histories of people who have escaped homelessness guidance on gathering the view of homeless people on existing patterns of service provision and to aid strategic planning Over the coming year, the Assembly Government intends commissioning research on homelessness amongst black and minority ethnic people. 4

5 Profile 'Only 50% of councils returned completed Homelessness Strategies to the Welsh Assembly Government by the deadline date. This once again reflects the low corporate priority given to housing in many local authorities.' (Final report of the National Strategy Task and Finish Advisory Group) At first sight, homelessness appears to be a priority policy area for the Assembly Government. However, as can be seen below, this priority may not be reflected directly in resource allocation. In addition, homelessness cannot be treated in isolation from other housing and wider issues. The fact that the Social Housing Grant budget has not increased for a number of years, given rising house prices, calls into question the Assembly Government commitment to preventing and tackling homelessness. Several pieces of work recently carried out have identified that the corporate priority given to homelessness at local authority level is patchy. In the last year, three publications, (the review of the implementation of the homelessness legislation, the final report of the National Strategy Task and Finish Advisory Group and the Welsh Local Government Association's Routemap for Improvement resulting from Shelter Cymru's First Contact report), have recommended that preventing and tackling homelessness should be given higher corporate priority within all local authorities in Wales. For homelessness to have an adequate corporate priority it needs political consensus and support. Funding Funding is provided to local government in different ways in Wales, England and Scotland. In Wales, most funding for local government is not hypothecated ie, local authorities are not told what they must spend certain amounts of money on and are left to make these decisions themselves. This is not the case for a lot of funding that goes to English and Scottish local authorities. An exact comparison of the resources being invested in homelessness between the three countries is therefore problematic. However, below we set out the main resources allocated to local government specifically for the purpose of tackling/preventing homelessness in each of the three countries. Wales: government settlement - no specific amount for homelessness. However, in 2004/05, the Assembly made available million of Section 180 Housing Act 1996 funding for voluntary sector schemes aimed at tackling homelessness and rooflessness in Wales England: 60 million in 2004/05 Homelessness Directorate budget designed to supplement mainstream funding sources. This funding has been made available to local authorities to help maintain government B&B use and rough sleeping targets and to implement their homelessness strategies. There is no separate Section 180 budget. Each local authority received a set allocation from the total and also had an opportunity to seek additional funding for priority services that contribute to positive outcomes on homelessness Local authorities' Revenue Support Grant increased by 8 million per annum to reflect the additional duties placed on them by the Homelessness Act 2002 Homelessness Directorate also responsible for 23.5 million for bricks and mortar allocated by the Housing Corporation within its Approved Development Programme Scotland: 20 million in 2004/05 to support local authorities in the production and delivery of homelessness strategies 2.32 million in 2004/05 for the Rough Sleepers Initiative 15 million in 2004/05 for decommissioning inappropriate hostels in Glasgow In 2003/04, 27.2 million of Communities Scotland capital monies was invested in homelessness projects This comparison supports the earlier statement that Assembly Government resource allocation does not match policy rhetoric in this area. 5

6 Positive Practice Many local authorities and partner organisations demonstrate positive and innovative practice in relation to preventing and tackling homelessness. Here, we set out some examples from Wales and from some of the seven Tackling Homelessness Beacon Councils in England. The headings under which the examples are provided were identified by CIH Cymru members and others as the most pressing issues. These examples are just a sample; we cannot hope to do justice to the totality of positive practice within the scope of this briefing. Corporate profile of homelessness Building trust In 2002, Colchester Borough Council achieved cross-party support for its B&B action plan which was developed after a substantial increase in the number of families placed in B&B. Officers achieved the support and trust of members by: assisting their understanding of the social and financial costs of homelessness engaging members in discussions with homeless people and the council's partners involving them in the development and implementation of the homelessness strategy Trust, a no blame culture and can do attitude are acknowledged as vital to Colchester's approach. This includes an 'invest to save' policy that has enabled officers to assist tenancy sustainment, prevent and delay homelessness and avoid the use of B&B by using resources creatively to solve problems. Front-line homelessness officers have budgets delegated to them that they can use to prevent homelessness by eg, paying rent arrears to enable someone to stay in their current accommodation. For more information, beacons@colchester.gov.uk Information, advice and prevention Personal housing plans Bridgend County Borough Council and Shelter Cymru worked in partnership to pilot personal housing plans, a method of assessing the needs of homeless or poorly housed people and assisting them to find realistic solutions to their problems. The pilot was funded by the Welsh Assembly Government. During a two-year period, the project received 236 referrals, of which direct assistance was provided to 164 people (70%). Many service users had previously expressed disillusionment, or a sense of helplessness in not being able to take control of the issues they were facing. The project helped to address this by involving service users directly in the management and resolution of difficulties. During part one of the pilot, 34% of people referred were helped to access and maintain suitable and settled accommodation, 35% were helped to remain in the accommodation they were already occupying and contact was lost with 31% before definite outcomes could be confirmed. Part two of the pilot focused on people who had been excluded from access to social housing. With assistance, 25% of the individuals were able to secure and maintain accommodation while 50% were helped to stay in the accommodation they were already occupying. Bridgend County Borough Council's collaborative approach is further demonstrated by the use by Valleys to Coast Housing, the borough's transfer housing association, of non-secure tenancies for a short period in some circumstances after possession has been obtained for rent arrears. This gives the tenant a final chance to clear the debt and key agencies to intervene, where appropriate. For more information, gregt@sheltercymru.org.uk or paul.thomas@v2c.org.uk 6

7 Focusing on prevention Cardiff Council has recently undergone a major restructuring in terms of its housing need and homelessness function. One of the key drivers behind the reorganisation was the need to place greater emphasis on the prevention of homelessness. The council is in the process of entering into agreements with agencies, particularly those who work with survivors of domestic abuse and young people, to enable them to facilitate homelessness assessments in partnership with the council. This is primarily aimed at preventing vulnerable people from having to provide the same detailed information to a number of different agencies. It will also mean that a worker or agency that the person feels comfortable with can help facilitate the homelessness assessment. This will benefit service users as well as the council which will be able divert to resources from the information gathering part of the assessment function to the prevention of homelessness. The council is also developing a homelessness prevention tool kit which will structure and resource a number of prevention initiatives. One of these will be the Tenancy Rescue Scheme, which will be administered by the Cardiff Bond Board. This scheme will seek to enable potentially homeless people to stay in the private rented sector and in doing so, reduce the number of homelessness presentations and therefore pressure on temporary accommodation. For more information, contact Mike Friel, m.friel@cardiff.gov.uk Family mediation Llamau Limited works across a range of local authority areas in South Wales providing housing, support and advice to people who are homeless, or at risk of becoming homeless. The JIGSO Project in Barry receives homelessness applications on behalf of the Council for all young people who are homeless in the Vale of Glamorgan. The JIGSO project offers a range of services, including: basic advice and signposting onto specialist advice agencies direct management of temporary accommodation support services access to the private rented sector through a bond scheme family mediation The family mediation worker based at the project seeks to resolve disputes within families that lead to young people becoming homeless. The worker also provides an outreach service in Llamau's temporary accommodation. Between January and March 2004, the JIGSO Family Mediation Worker saw 28 new clients plus numerous ongoing cases, all 16 or 17-years old. Of the new cases, 32% were able to return or remain at home, 43% said their family relationship had improved as a result of mediation and in 18% of cases family contact was re-established after a period of estrangement. For further information, contact Becky Roberts at sa@llamauvale.freeserve.co.uk What about non-priority homeless? The London Borough of Harrow provides support for single non-priority homeless people through a weekly surgery advertised in hospitals, libraries and supermarkets. A number of agencies attend the surgery including health, housing and benefits. This joint approach has helped to prevent some housing problems from reaching the point of homelessness. Other assistance to non-priority homeless people includes a winter shelter, a rent deposit scheme and mediation provided through the West London YMCA. For more information, hayley.young@harrow.gov.uk 7

8 Prevention by landlords Role of support in preventing homelessness Rhondda-Cynon-Taf County Borough Council's Tenancy/Home Support Scheme was formed following the introduction of the Supporting People Programme. The scheme aims to promote and develop sustainable opportunities for vulnerable people to improve their quality of life through the provision of support services which enable them to have greater independence and control in making informed decisions and lifestyle choices. The service is targeted at vulnerable people who may be homeless, or potentially homeless, and need assistance to develop and enhance their own skills and confidence to help them manage, maintain or move on from their current living arrangements. Access to the scheme is by means of an 'assessment of need'. This function is carried out by a number of approved organisations and agencies that assess need against agreed eligibility criteria. Support services delivered through the scheme have three particular features: they serve individuals directly the people they help are especially vulnerable the needs they meet are extremely varied Success at the individual level can be measured by improvements in people's quality of life and their ability to sustain their living arrangements, avoiding admission to institutional settings such as hospital, or at the extreme, prison, or a life on the streets. During the first 6 months of the Scheme, 333 referrals were received from individuals who were homeless or potentially homeless. At the time of writing, the Scheme is supporting 305 such individuals to manage or move-on from their current living arrangements. For more information, Darran.J.Daye@rhondda-cynon-taff.gov.uk Money advice A partnership project between Torfaen County Borough Council and Torfaen Citizens Advice Bureau seeks to reduce the number of evictions from council housing by the provision of specialist money management advice by an independent agency to council tenants in substantial rent arrears. The scheme is supported by Assembly Government Section 180 funding for three years. The scheme started in July 2003, and while it is too early to state with any certainty that it has reduced the number of evictions, it has certainly reduced the number of households at risk of eviction because of rent arrears. Since July 2003, the council has made 699 referrals to the scheme and the total arrears in these cases have reduced from 221,000 to 122,000. For more information, Ian.Prosser@Torfaen.gov.uk Temporary accommodation Housing association homes as temporary accommodation Since 1st June 2004, Mid Wales Housing Association and Powys County Council's new nominations agreement includes the use of association homes as temporary accommodation for homeless people. For more information, info@mid-walesha.co.uk 8

9 Private sector leasing Cardiff Council currently provides a range of temporary accommodation for homeless households in the city. The council is keen to reduce its reliance on B&B accommodation, both inside and outside of the city, and is working proactively with a number of agencies, including private sector landlords, to expand temporary accommodation options. The council has a long-standing private leasing scheme, with approximately 200 properties leased from private landlords and let to homeless households as temporary accommodation. The council is also working in partnership with Cadwyn Housing Association to develop another private sector leasing scheme in which the association will lease approximately 150 properties from private landlords and make them available to the council. This differs from the existing scheme in that households will be offered assured shorthold tenancies in these properties as a way of the council discharging their rehousing responsibilities. Acceptance of these properties will by choice and no homeless household will be forced to accept this alternative to either a council or housing association landlord letting. As Cardiff Council makes more use of the private rented sector for both temporary and move-on accommodation, they are conscious that removing properties from the private rented sector will probably result in increased homelessness presentations. To address this, Cardiff Council is establishing a working group to investigate how it can most effectively use the private rented sector in the city. For more information, m.friel@cardiff.gov.uk Hostel provision North Wales Housing Association owns and directly manages three projects that provide temporary accommodation for homeless people. Noddfa, in Colwyn Bay, provides temporary accommodation for up to 10 homeless households, with a mix of single people and families. Access is via referral from a range of agencies, including the Homelessness Section of the Council, Social Services Teams and the Youth Offending Team. The average length of stay is about 13 weeks. St Mary's direct access hostel in Bangor is a 12-bed direct access hostel. Potential clients self refer or are referred to the project from a wide variety of sources and can stay for up to 3 months, although the average length of stay is 8 weeks. Pendinas in Bangor provides accommodation for 8 single people and has been in management since Access is by referral from a range of agencies and the average length of stay is 15 weeks. At all NWHA hostels life-skills training and sign-posting to other services are the key aspects of the work undertaken with clients. In : Noddfa received 65 referrals and accommodated 32 homeless households. Of the 32, 13 were successfully moved on to alternative accommodation in housing association, council or private sector tenancies St.Marys received 216 referrals and accommodated 42 clients. Of the 42, 14 were successfully rehoused during the year For more information, Paul.McHugh@nwha.org.uk 9

10 Permanent accommodation Making the most of nominations Through its Community Housing Agreement with housing associations with stock in the area, Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council agreed that all nominations to housing associations would be managed through the authority's homelessness section. The change was prompted by the experience of the homelessness section in not having access to enough move-on accommodation. An initial pilot started in October 2002, but nominations are now managed in this way on a permanent basis. During 2003/04, housing associations with stock in the area housed 86 households accepted as homeless by the county borough, a significant increase on previous years. The initiative has been positively received by the housing associations involved. An important element in its success is a link with resettlement support. Any household accepted as homeless by the authority can be provided with up to two months of resettlement support from the in-house tenancy support team. For more information, r.mccartney@neath-porttalbot.gov.uk Choice-based lettings and homelessness In June 2003, the Vale of Glamorgan Council became the first local authority in Wales to implement a district-wide choice-based letting scheme, Homes4U. After a year, one of the benefits of the system has been found to be increased access to housing services for vulnerable people, particularly homeless people and those with support needs. 41% of total lettings went to homeless people during the year. Each fortnight's advert is circulated to voluntary sector partners, statutory agencies such as Social Services and support agencies, so that they can assist homeless people in bidding for a home of their choice. Based on its experience to date, rather than restrict access, choice-based lettings have enabled the Vale of Glamorgan Council to provide a better service to vulnerable people seeking housing. A member of staff in Social Services dealing with care leavers commonly states that the new system has 'empowered his clients' and gives them 'meaningful and real choice.' Homes4U has recently been extended to include all lettings made by Newydd Housing Association in the Vale of Glamorgan. For more information, contact Nick Selwyn, NJSelwyn@valeofglamorgan.gov.uk Private rented sector options The private rented sector is a significant part of the local housing market in Colchester. Colchester Borough Council has a home-finder scheme which aims to assist homeless families to stay in private rented accommodation as a long-term option that will discharge the authority's duty. Introduced in August 2002, the financial package includes damage deposit, rent in advance, administration fees or a goodwill payment to the landlord. Families find their own property and the council carries out basic suitability checks including gas safety certificate and pre-tenancy determination. This option is open to families to whom the council has accepted a duty, who volunteer and are able to manage in the private sector. The money is recycled at the end of each tenancy. An 'invest to save' approach has been used to fund the work. In addition, the council has put a lot of effort into ensuring that its housing benefit service is efficient. The housing service employs a benefits officer to fast-track benefit applications from homeless households. The finance department will issue payments in three days because they accept that preventing homelessness will save the council money in the long-term, reflecting the corporate approach noted earlier. For more information, beacons@colchester.gov.uk 10

11 Funding/resources Accessing money from Europe Caer Las Cymru work with vulnerable and excluded single people in a number of local authority areas in South and West Wales. The Routes Project receives Objective 1 funding from the European Social Fund matched funded by the organisation. The Routes Project provides one-to-one caseworker and outreach services to vulnerable and excluded single people in Neath Port Talbot and Swansea that seek to: build confidence and self-esteem signpost users to other services prevent homelessness provide opportunities for training and accreditation The services have resulted in a range of positive outcomes for service users, including: improved housing security, including acquiring tenancy support services starting educational/vocational courses and/or volunteering improved health and well-being, including access to primary health services and improved attendance at drug and alcohol related services significant evidence of improved interactive and community engagement skills, particularly through the use of ICT and the internet For further information, gerry.allin@caerlas.org.uk Developing a sustainable funding base In partnership with the University of Glamorgan Business School, the Wallich Clifford Community have been successful in securing funding from the Welsh Assembly Government for a Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP). This has enabled the University to employ an associate who will be placed with the Wallich Clifford Community for a period of two years. If the project is successful, it is anticipated that a permanent post will be created. The associate 'Business Development Officer' is charged with initiating separate income streams with the aim of shifting the balance of the Charity's funding from being heavily dependent on statutory grants to include a higher percentage of independent finance. The associate will achieve this by: developing subsidiary business activities, creating a variety of separately configured entities that will gift a percentage of their profits to the charity exploiting the potential to develop trading arms or social businesses The Wallich Clifford Community believes that the KTP scheme will assist the organisation to gain financial strength thus enabling stability, independence and continued development. Ultimately, the true beneficiaries will be the vulnerable individuals that the organisation exists to help. The project is funded through the DTI and Welsh Assembly Government-supported KTP scheme. For more information, jim.waddington@wallichclifford.net 11

12 Accessing health monies Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council secured Section 180 funding, as well as financial support from the Local Health Board, for a part-time health worker to work with homeless people. The council appointed a dedicated specialist Health Visitor to deliver an appropriate and accessible homeless persons health needs screening service through which health care pathways tailored to individual client needs are drawn up and monitored for take-up and effectiveness. Broader health and social needs are identified and evaluated as part of the process with the aim of supporting homeless people with appropriate and sustainable housing. Between October 2003 and April 2004, 40 people were referred by homelessness staff to the health worker. A full assessment of health, social and emotional well-being was undertaken in each case and referrals made to appropriate agencies to provide additional support, health advice and treatment. The health worker has also assisted homeless people to register for primary health care services. For more information, nicola.aubrey@merthyr.gov.uk Innovation Outreach services for rough sleepers Working with partner agencies, Cardiff Council provides a Night Bus service for rough sleepers. The bus, donated by Cardiff Bus, has a kitchen, toilet, electricity, running water, a consulting room, a comfortable seating and socialising area, TV, computer and internet link. The bus is driven by Outreach Workers to places where service users are found. They talk to service users, give advice and assess their need, as well as providing hot food and drink. Other specialist staff provide surgeries on the bus, homeless officers can take homeless applications and can place people on the waiting list at any time via the internet link. The bus has enabled the council and its partners to get quality services to very vulnerable people. It won the inter-agency category of the Community Care magazine annual awards in Cardiff consider that this project is a good example of social services, in this case Adult and Children's Services, working corporately with housing to address homelessness and the associated support needs of individuals. For more information, m.friel@cardiff.gov.uk Working with prisoners Cardiff Prison Resettlement Unit works proactively with prisoners to retain their home or to ensure access to new housing on release. Specific initiatives include: rent arrears scheme - prisoners pay 2.50 per week off their arrears, 33% of their total earnings. This reduces the likelihood that they will be excluded from rehousing by social landlords once they have been released working with housing benefit departments to ensure that housing benefit continues to be paid in all circumstances permitted by regulations ensuring that decisions on early release/home detention curfew are made in a timely fashion to enable tenancies to be maintained homelessness and risk assessments undertaken before release so that prisoners who will be homeless on release can be rehoused straight into permanent accommodation where possible For more information, phillip.stentiford@hmps.gsi.gov.uk 12

13 Unified assessment Powys County Council is undertaking a pilot unified assessment process for older people up until April After this, the council intends extending the approach to other groups, including homeless people, to ensure that housing, support and other needs of the individuals/households are met. For more information, contact Chris Price, cprice@powys.gov.uk Customer satisfaction Cyngor Sir Ynys Mon ensures that independent assessment of customer satisfaction is undertaken after the initial homelessness interview. Questionnaires are issued to service users with a reply paid envelope and the returns are independently analysed. Where clients are in agreement, follow-up visits are undertaken three months after the initial interview by an independent agency to further assess customer satisfaction. For more information, see inspection report on Sanctuary from domestic abuse In Harrow, homelessness due to violent relationship breakdown has been reduced by partnership working between the local authority, the Police and Harrow's Domestic Violence Forum. A victim-centred approach, combined with improved security, has been adopted for cases where domestic abuse is coming from associated persons living outside of the home. The security measures include: additional door and window locks and lighting strengthening doors and creating a 'secure sanctuary' converting one of the bedrooms in the home to a safe room provision of personal alarms a helpline for victims of domestic violence to find out about the scheme provision of police mobile phones if required Referrals can be made by any core agency including Housing, the Police Crime Reduction Unit, and Women's Aid. The Crime Prevention Officer will discuss with the woman whether increased security will help, taking into account her individual circumstances. Domestic violence support officers from Women's Aid are available if required to support the woman when making this decision. If the woman wishes to pursue the security option, the Police Crime Prevention Officer will ask the security contractor to carry out the work the same day or next working day. The authority's housing service picks up the bill as part of its homelessness prevention strategy. For more information, hayley.young@harrow.gov.uk 13

14 CIH Cymru would like to see the Assembly Government: increase the resources invested in the prevention of homelessness by: substantially increasing the Social Housing Grant budget to ensure a more adequate supply of social housing top-slicing part of the Social Housing Grant budget to provide appropriate and good quality temporary accommodation throughout Wales establishing a 3-year national spend to save budget to be allocated to all authorities for the sole purpose of preventing homelessness (guidance on use of this budget could draw on the experience of English beacon authorities and others) establish 2008 as a deadline for the elimination of the use of B&B for all homeless households, (but only if linked with an increase in resources), and work towards an earlier deadline for eliminating its use for families with children ensure that housing options and leaving home education are part of the national curriculum in Wales CIH Cymru would like to see the Assembly Government and WLGA: provide training for members, officers and key stakeholders to raise awareness of local authority duties towards homeless and potentially homeless people eg, by using the Shelter Cymru training package that has been endorsed by WLGA through mechanisms such as Excellence Wales, websites and relevant publications: disseminate effective practice and things that have not worked so well, as well as lessons from homelessness projects and initiatives funded by the Assembly monitor the use of effective practice and the changes it produces work with the voluntary sector in addressing homelessness CIH Cymru would like to see local authorities: demonstrating corporate priority for homelessness by: ensuring a greater emphasis on the prevention of homelessness across all functions allocating more resources to the homelessness function to enable creative and innovative solutions to be put in place CIH Cymru would like to see housing associations: work constructively with local authorities to prevent homelessness where possible and provide services to respond to homelessness where it arises, including the provision of temporary and permanent accommodation 14

15 Further Information Websites (for information on Beacon councils) Publications First Contact Shelter Cymru, 2003 Healthy Relationships: Health and Social Services Engagement in Homelessness Strategies and Services Shelter, 2003 Housing Strategies for Youth of Housing, February 1998 Chartered Institute Out of Sight, Out of Mind Shelter Cymru, 2004 Review of the Implementation of Homelessness Legislation Welsh Assembly Government Housing Research Report HRR 1/04 Strategic Approaches to Homelessness Chartered Institute of Housing Good Practice Briefing No.24, December 2002 Routemap to Improvement Welsh Local Government Association, 2003 Roof Welsh Housing Quarterly Relevant national and regional organisations and their remit Cymorth Cymru Representative body for supported housing providers in Wales Homeless Link Cymru Provides support, news and training for front-line homelessness agencies in Wales, tel Caer Las Cymru Provides support, advice and therapeutic learning opportunities for vulnerable and excluded single people in Cardiff, Bridgend, Neath Port Talbot, Swansea and Carmarthenshire Cymdeithas Tai Hafan Registered social landlord that provides accommodation and support for vulnerable women in a variety of settings across Wales Llamau Limited Provides housing, advice and support for a mix of client groups, principally young people and vulnerable women aged 16 to 60 in Cardiff, the Vale of Glamorgan, Newport, Caerphilly and Bridgend NASH Provides housing, advice and support for single homeless people in Newport, Monmouthshire, Blaenau Gwent and Torfaen Shelter Cymru Lobbying organisation working for the prevention of homelessness, providing independent housing advice across Wales and delivering a range of training services Tai Trothwy Part of the Gwalia Group and provides housing, support and advice services to enable vulnerable people to maintain their independence in a range of projects across Wales TDG Cymru Aims to create a national association of members to unite, represent and support all projects in Wales which provide an integrated or holistic service of supported housing and learning and work Wallich Clifford Community Provides accommodation and support for homeless people in Cardiff, Bridgend, Blaenau Gwent, Swansea, Neath Port Talbot, Carmarthenshire and Ceredigion Welsh Women's Aid National umbrella organisation with a membership of 31 local Women's Aid Groups throughout Wales. Groups provide emergency accommodation, support and advice and outreach services within the community 15

16 The Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) is the only professional organisation representing all those working in housing. Its purpose is to maximise the contribution that housing professionals make to the well-being of communities. In Wales, the organisation aims to provide a professional and impartial voice for housing, to emphasise the particular context of housing in Wales and to work with organisations to identify housing solutions. Chartered Institute of Housing Cymru 4 Purbeck House, Lambourne Crescent, Cardiff Business Park, Llanishen, Cardiff CF14 5GL Tel: Fax: Website: This CIH Cymru Key Information briefing is the first in a series which explores issues faced by housing professionals today. The next Key Information briefing will be available in July 2004 and will focus on housing finance. We would like your input on topics for future briefings. If you have any suggestions, please contact Alison Clements, Policy & Public Affairs Officer, CIH Cymru on , or alison.clements@cih.org Authors: Tamsin Stirling & Simon Inkson Photography: Ian Homer Designed and printed by Carrick Business Services Ltd copyright Chartered Institute of Housing 16