Agenda item

To receive a report from Joanne Drew, Director of Housing and Nick Martin, Head of Service Temporary Accommodation.

Councillor Gina Needs (Cabinet Member Social Housing) introduced this item and together with Joanne Drew (Director of Housing) and Nick Martin (Head of Service Temporary Accommodation) a report was presented on Temporary Accommodation.  The report set out how the Temporary Accommodation service is run and the role of ‘Housing Gateway’ in helping to support the council to meet and discharge its homelessness obligations.

A report by the Smith Institute on ‘Why is Enfield facing high levels of homelessness and what are the options for change?’ had been circulated with the report and it was noted that a report on the future of the Homelessness service had been submitted to Cabinet in September 2019

The report explained how the temporary accommodation service works and the main reasons why there were such high levels of temporary accommodation in Enfield.

The following points were raised:

• It was asked how the ambition to ensure there are no households in temporary accommodation for more than 6 months would be achieved.  Nick Martin explained that there would be a different approach introduced, with more resources used to help people at an earlier point to prevent homelessness. A new intelligence- based IT system would highlight people who are at risk and they would be supported. The IT model is being developed and would be used from April, it is anticipated it would take a year to mobilise. It was mentioned that sometimes people may be reluctant to move into alternative accommodation which may be inferior to their existing residence. Some people are legally entitled to a council home and cannot be moved into private rented property.
• In answer to a question about the length of time people spend in temporary accommodation it was stated that whilst the average time is 2½ years there have been cases of people being in temporary accommodation for 20 to 21 years.
• There would be incentives for people to sustain their tenancies (extra points allocated) to try to prevent people from becoming homeless.
• It was noted that support packages are provided in Croydon and it was asked what support is provided for people in Enfield. An answer was given that we refer people to other housing providers, and that we will be improving the information and advice available so people can make informed decisions. We would be setting up a ‘housing academy’ to equip tenants with the skills and training needed to sustain future tenancies in the private sector.
• Reference was made to the number of older residents who would be happy to downsize to smaller properties if they were available. Joanne stated that they were working on this, investment was needed to provide a better offer for residents.
• Councillor Smith spoke of his support for this initiative for early interventions to prevent people from becoming homeless. He said he would like officers to report back on this in 12 months and provide an update.
• It was noted that it was often cheaper for other local authorities to rent properties for their residents in Enfield than in central London, the amount of Private Rented Sector (PRS) properties available for Enfield is therefore less. It is estimated that approximately 60% of PRS properties in Enfield are rented to LA’s other than Enfield.  Similarly, Enfield has rented properties for residents outside of the borough, for example in Harlow.  It is anticipated that Enfield will join ‘Capital Letters’ which is a collaboration between London boroughs working together to improve housing options for homeless households with an aim to reduce competition between boroughs.  A report is to be submitted to Cabinet on this. 
• Members noted that in some situations it is necessary for residents to be placed in properties out of the borough, for example in cases of domestic violence.
• It was mentioned that by having additional people coming into the borough as a result of cheaper rents, this is having a detrimental effect on Enfield services - for example, with extra school places needed.
• The net loss for Enfield for temporary accommodation in 2018/19 was £7.9m.
• Reference was made to placements in Harlow from Enfield.  A number of residents had stated that they were happy to stay in Harlow and did not wish to move back to Enfield. It was noted that the process of discussions with Haringey are ongoing on exchanging properties as Haringey have 600 households placed in the Enfield area and we have 300 placements in the Haringey area. It was noted that these were mainly studio or one-bedroom properties.
• There were now more stringent controls for all London boroughs on nightly paid accommodation, with reduced rates set in 2014..
• A table on page 4 of the report shows the 3- year budget profile for temporary accommodation/ homelessness which shows an anticipated £1.8m decrease in the budget for next year (2020/21) compared to this year (2019/20). It was asked how we can expect such a drastic decrease. Joanne Drew referred to significant targets for turning around properties and that resources for this in future will be under the remit of the Head of Service, Temporary Accommodation.
• It was noted that we were investigating the viability of a social letting’s agency with a mixed rent model, Local Housing Allowance, intermediate, and an additional market rent option (Enfield Let).
• It was questioned whether Enfield could or should provide additional funding to subsidise rent levels. It was pointed out that by doing this, we would rapidly reduce the number of properties that could be provided. At present, the priority was to be able to maximise supply.

AGREED

1. The report was NOTED.
2. Members asked officers to provide an update next year, on the initiative for early interventions to prevent people from becoming homeless (November 2020).

The Chair thanked Councillor Needs and officers for this informative report.

Councillor Needs, Joanne Drew and Nick Martin left the meeting at this point.