Decision - Notion of Motion - Next Steps for Homeless following COVID-19 Response

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Decision details

Notion of Motion - Next Steps for Homeless following COVID-19 Response

Decision Maker: Housing Committee

Decision status: For Determination

Is Key decision?: No

Is subject to call in?: No

Purpose:

Notion of Motion: sets out the next steps of recovery for those accommodated during Covid 19

Decisions:

7.1      The Head of Housing Needs introduced the response to the Notice of Motion presented at the previous Housing Committee and stated that in summary the Council is intending to provide appropriate move on support and accommodation for all rough sleepers currently accommodated. However, we currently do not have sufficient resources to meet all of the needs, and therefore have requested additional support from Ministry of Housing Communities & Local Government (MHCLG) if we are to avoid people returning to the streets.

 

          Questions for Officer

 

7.2      Councillor Fowler thanked the officers for the report and noted that Brighton & Hove currently has no access to residential rehab (the rehab service we access has closed its doors due to the pandemic) for clients who now wish to engage in treatment. The Head of Housing Needs informed the Councillor that officers were working hard to deal with the issues arising from substance miss use and prescriptions have been given for those asking for De-Tox. It was noted that some Rough Sleepers beg on the street as part of the street community culture.

 

7.3      Councillor Gibson welcomed the report and noted that since lockdown started the physical and mental health of Rough Sleepers appears to have improved and expressed concerns that the rehousing seemed to be slow. The Head of Housing Needs informed the Councillor that the rehousing will be monitored through the Homeless Reduction Board. Student accommodation is being used help house the 400 Rough Sleepers until September 2020. Other authorities are looking to see how Brighton and Hove City Council move forward on this matter. The Councillor commented that the Homeless Reduction Board will need to meet often. Councillor Gibson was then informed that some hotels will be closing to Rough Sleepers in the next two weeks. The St Mungo’s charity has helped to move Rough Sleepers out of hotels and into other accommodation such as the YMCA.

 

7.4      Councillor Mears thanked officers for the report and noted that the Argus newspaper reported that Brighton Housing Trust have continued accepting residents throughout the Pandemic.

 

7.5      Councillor Osborne thanked officers for the report and the timescale for Personal Health Plans (PHP) need to be undertaken by mid/late August 2020. Extra Homeless Persons officers have been taken on the deal with 400 PHPs. The Move on Plans will need to know where the person is being moved to. Figures for the plans will be circulated to the Committee Members before the next committee meeting in September 2020.

 

7.6      Councillor Hugh-Jones was informed that 6 new members of staff have been employed and the Ministry of Housing are hopefully responding soon on funding support.

Report author: Sylvia Peckham

Publication date: 18/06/2020

Date of decision: 17/06/2020

Decided at meeting: 17/06/2020 - Housing Committee

Accompanying Documents:

 


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