Agenda item

Report of Director of Economic Growth and Neighbourhood Services

The Director of Economic Growth and Neighbourhood Services submitted a report (previously circulated) requesting that consideration be given to the progress against the Preventing Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy and updating Members on the homeless service provision during the Covid-19 lockdown period.

Details were provided of the Council’s response to the significant increase in demand for Homeless and Housing Options services as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. Members were advised that as part of the Council’s “Everybody In’ agreement, anyone who presented to the Council as homeless, regardless of their need, was placed in emergency temporary accommodation.

It was reported that additional hotel and bed and breakfast accommodation was procured in the early period of lockdown; for the first quarter of 2020/21 147 households were placed in emergency bed and breakfast accommodation; self-contained temporary accommodation increased from 11 to 15 units; and there had been a 525 per cent increase in the number of nights in emergency accommodation when compared to the same period in the previous year.

The submitted report stated that Darlington’s Preventing Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy for 2019-2024 was approved by Cabinet on 9 July 2019; that this was a requirement of Section 1(1) of the Homelessness Act 2002; the strategy consisted of four main sections, namely a review, strategy, action plan and statement on rough sleeping; and the five key supporting objectives to the Strategy were outlined.

It was reported that progress on the Strategy’s action plan was monitored through a multi-agency Preventing Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Forum; and that of the 28 actions in the Preventing Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy, nine had been completed; 12 were progressing and were on track to meet timescales for delivery; and seven were progressing but were not on track to meet the timescales for delivery.

Following a question by Members it was confirmed that a multi-agency group was in place to manage begging in Darlington which included an outreach service; a planned approach was used for those residents that were leaving hospital or prison; and that contact numbers for the support services in place for the homeless and beggars would be provided to Members. 

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.