1. Improving access to early housing advice and homelessness prevention services | ||||||
Target | Milestones | Measure | Funded by | Timescale | Lead responsibility | Progress |
Ensure there is corporate leadership in tackling homelessness in the district. | · Ensure homelessness is a priority in the Council Plan.
| Statement in Council Plan | Existing Resources |
| HOH | Timescales to be reviewed following discussions with new Portfolio Holder |
Ensure homeless applications are accessible to all customers | · Applications will be taken by phone, and alternative methods of interview will be offered including Online Teams, Telephone or in Person | Customer feedback to be checked each quarter | Existing Resources | May 2024 | HOTL | This has been implemented and is working well |
Continue to update the Council’s web pages on housing advice and homelessness to ensure advice is available early on | · Information on Housing Register has been updated in Feb 23. It is due to be reviewed again in Oct 23. Homelessness pages still to be updated | Housing register pages updated | Existing Resources | Dec 2023 | HOTL | Continue to keep updated and compliant with DHULC guidance. Further updates as appropriate. |
1. Improving access to early housing advice and homelessness prevention services | ||||||
Target | Milestones | Measure | Funded by | Timescale | Lead responsibility | Progress |
Improve ID verification processes to identify potentially fraudulent applications | · Supporting organisations that visit our applicants are able to help with in person verification. · Work with Fraud to determine options |
| Existing Resources | June 2024 | HOSM |
|
Explore ways to improve early intervention for those at risk of homelessness through financial difficulties | · Tenancy Sustainment Officer appointed. · Housing Register applications to be given advice around Cost of Living support. |
| HPG | May 2023 | TSO / HATL | Tenancy Sustainment Officer is now in post to offer advice and early intervention to those prior to receiving an eviction notice. |
Develop Homes for Ukraine Accommodation Plan to limit the number of homeless Ukrainians if rematching is not possible | · Plan Drafted · Plan approved by Homes for Ukraine Programme Board |
| ESCC HFU grant / HPG | Sept 2023 | HPO |
|
Improve collaboration with landlords and letting agents to make the Council aware of a tenant getting into difficulties so we can offer support | · Consideration of a Landlord Forum · Explore use of a Newsletter to landlords with information on our support · Upskill staff to have difficult conversations with landlords including for them to take a new tenant |
| HPG | Dec 2023 | HOSM |
|
1. Improving access to early housing advice and homelessness prevention services | ||||||
Target | Milestones | Measure | Funded by | Timescale | Lead responsibility | Progress |
Communications to landlords where the tenant is in receipt of benefits to make them aware of Tenancy Sustainment Role | · Liaise with WDC Benefits Department for details of Landlords · Build route with DWP for applicants on UC for same approach |
|
HPG | June 2024 | HOTL / TSO |
|
Ensure staff are referring to Mediation Services where appropriate to resolve threat of homelessness | · Arrange a meeting to discuss their current support routes to best guide our applicants |
|
Existing Resources | August 2023 | HOTL |
|
Continue to review and update our Procedural Manual to take account of our new obligations | · Review current manual · Update as necessary · Circulate to all staff |
|
Existing Resources | Re-occurring | HOTL | To be kept under review at regular intervals |
Continue to review and update Housing Job Roles when required | · Look at current job descriptions, ensure that all staff with the same role have the same description / responsibilities |
| Existing Resources | Re-occurring | HOTL / HOSM | To be kept under review at regular intervals |
Ensure staff are utilising services such as Disabled facilities Grants, Discretionary Housing Payments and Housing Solutions Officer role to keep people at home | · Reminders / Training to staff on DFG’s, DHPs and Solution Officer roles · Ensure it is promoted in the procedural manual and at team meetings | This is monitored through staff 121s and appraisals | Existing Resources | March 2024 ongoing | HOTL | Ongoing work with Housing Solutions Officers. Since 2019 we have also had an Occupational Therapist and an OT assistant working in housing |
1. Improving access to early housing advice and homelessness prevention services | ||||||
Target | Milestones | Measure | Funded by | Timescale | Lead responsibility | Progress |
Maximise opportunities to provide new affordable homes and continue to provide a range of properties across the district based on needs. | · Use new Local Authority Housing Fund for Refugees to secure 12 new properties · Through planning policy provide affordable housing |
| LAHF Homes England | Re-occurring | HDM | Asset Management Group continues to review the use of all housing and corporate assets. We have built and acquired a number of new council homes since we have had the ability to do so. |
Ensure the best use is made of existing affordable housing stock continuing to look at opportunities to address under occupation and over- crowding. | · Review Allocations Policy with regards to overcrowding and transfer quota · Review transfer incentive scheme |
| Existing budget (HRA) and HPG | October 2023 | HATL/HSM/ HOSM | Allocations Policy is kept under review to meet the needs of the housing demands within the district |
Promote Government incentives to enable households to access home-ownership | · Ensure website effectively directs customers to government schemes · Ensure housing applicants and transferees newsletter promotes schemes |
| Existing Resources | Re-occurring | HPO | Ongoing – Information and links on our website. Information is published in Applicants newsletter as appropriate. |
Ensure ongoing training and support for all staff | · Arrange re-fresher training and case law update training as and when required |
| HPG | Re-occurring | HOTL | Regular legal update training. Different providers and services attend team meetings to ensure they are aware of different services and how they operate. |
1. Improving access to early housing advice and homelessness prevention services | ||||||
Target | Milestones | Measure | Funded by | Timescale | Lead responsibility | Progress |
Implement a new mandatory welfare check to all clients one week after being placed in emergency or temporary accommodation following feedback from customers | · Appropriate questions to be drafted | Customer feedback to be checked each quarter | Existing Resources | July 2023 | HOTL / HOSM |
|
Review how Allocations functions in the absence of a private rented sector and increased reliance on homelessness discharges | · Explore increased banding for those owed a homelessness duty |
| Existing Resources | Dec 2023 | HOSM / HATL |
|
Ensure early intervention of housing register applications to highlight any applicants that require further support through homelessness applications | · Implement process for checking all new applications and direct applicant to HPA · Additional support for housing register to clear back log |
| HPG | June 2023 | HATL /HOTL |
|
1. Improving access to early housing advice and homelessness prevention services | ||||||
Target | Milestones | Measure | Funded by | Timescale | Lead responsibility | Progress |
To implement governments new Anti-Social behaviour action plan – “Immediate Justice” into our Allocations Policy | · Guidance provided by Government to be reflected in policy |
| Existing Resources | Dec 2023 | HATL |
|
Current IT system for housing options and Allocations is due for renewal. Explore whether there is better programme for our needs. | Explore different systems and procurement options |
| HPG | Dec 2025 | HOSM/ HOTL/ HATL |
|
Reduce reliance on emergency accommodation (EA) despite the expected rise in EA need | · Growing pressures on the service and increased volumes of homeless presentations will make a reduction on the use of EA difficult |
| HPG | March 2026 | HOSM |
|
Training in Neurodiversity and Trauma Informed Care for all staff | · Understanding different communication needs to better support our applicants |
| HPG | September 2023 | HOSM |
|
2. Ending Rough Sleeping in Wealden | ||||||
Target | Milestones | Measure | Funded by | Timescale | Lead responsibility | Progress |
Maximise opportunities for customers to access the private rented sector. Review landlord incentives scheme to ensure that it meets the needs of customers and landlords | · Review outcomes from Ukrainian SCDA package to understand the level of support clients may require to access the PRS. |
| HPG | December 2023 | HOSM / HPO |
|
Work with Housing Development Team to explore Modular housing and Self Build Housing | · A lack of PRS highlights the need to explore alternative housing styles |
| Existing Resources | December 2024 | HDM |
|
Improve Employment Support for those who move into emergency / temporary accommodation | · Review service support from BEAM & ESTAR is sufficient to support our clients |
| HPG | March 2024 | HOSM |
|
Introduction of Online Tenancy Training, assess incorporating this as required for applicants with a trigger on their application | · Allocations policy references the new online training and will be used where appropriate |
| HPG | December 2023 | HATL |
|
2. Ending Rough Sleeping in Wealden | ||||||
Target | Milestones | Measure | Funded by | Timescale | Lead responsibility | Progress |
Improve access to emergency accommodation that permits pets | · Explore our own temporary accommodation accepting pets and a policy to cover this |
| HPG | August 2024 | TAC / HOSM |
|
Explore independent living skills workshops to improve tenancy management for those first time renting | · Explore agency to provide this type of support. |
| HPG | December 2024 | HOSM |
|
Explore options to help applicants to purchase or acquire furnishings once supported into accommodation | · Utilise small pot of DESSS funding. · Explore using a “man with a van” on an ad hoc basis. · Explore issuing vouchers for Furniture Now or other second-hand furnishing scheme |
| DESSS Funding | June 2025 | HOTL |
|
Review RSI provision and extension of Support offered to Rough Sleepers | · Ongoing |
| Countywide RSI grant / HPG | Re-occurring | HPO / HOSM |
|
3. Establishing greater local collaboration with partners | ||||||
Target | Milestones | Measure | Funded by | Timescale | Lead responsibility | Progress |
Improve collaboration with landlords and letting agents to make the Council aware of a tenant getting into difficulties so we can offer support | · TSO to raise awareness of the role and the support that we can provide |
| HPG | Dec 2023 | TSO /HOTL |
|
Improve knowledge of DWP staff around Duty to Refer to receive notification as early as possible that someone is at risk of homelessness | · Providing Training to DWP groups |
| Existing Resources | July 2025 | HOSM |
|
Consider a county wide landlord forum to encourage landlords to work with district and boroughs | · Look at Landlord forum run by HBC & RDC to understand scope for expansion |
| Existing Resources | Dec 2023 | HOSM |
|
Staff to have a better awareness around supporting families who are placed out of district in accessing education | · Build communications with ESCC education pathways |
| Existing Resources | July 2023 | HOTL/ TAC |
|
Continue to identify support needs and refer clients to appropriate support services such as BHT, Wellbeing and BEAM. | · Improved assessment form implemented |
| HPG | Re-occurring | HOTL / HOO | Improved assessment form to highlight the needs of the client and referral pathways continually monitored |
3. Establishing greater local collaboration with partners | ||||||
Target | Milestones | Measure | Funded by | Timescale | Lead responsibility | Progress |
In partnership with training providers operating in Wealden to deliver “Street Learning” courses to provide additional skills to residents such as computer skills | · Street Learning courses are active and accessible by the community | Continually renewed and courses available | Existing Resources | Re-occurring | HPO | Street Learning is ongoing |
Work with services to ensure there are adequate provision for substance misuse in the North of Wealden | · Countywide scheme – RSI have a mobile unit to visit all areas across the district ensuring support to rural areas · Co-located substance misuse co-ordinator being employed |
| SSMTG via ESCC | Dec 2023 | HOSM / HOTL |
|
Explore ways to improve links with health services | · There are already additional links through RSI. · Countywide project to explore improving links further |
| Existing Resources | Dec 2026 | HOSM | There are good strategic links but this needs further improvement |
Improve access to support for applicants placed in Emergency or Temporary accommodation outside of the district | · BHT will only support if applicant is within East Sussex. Need understanding of support offered in Kent / B&H / Mid Sussex |
| Existing Resources | July 2024 | TAC |
|
3. Establishing greater local collaboration with partners | ||||||
Target | Milestones | Measure | Funded by | Timescale | Lead responsibility | Progress |
Build better relationships with organisations on sharing updates on mutual clients | · Developing regular catch ups with different partners to ensure feedback is provided · Audit of support services |
| Existing Resources | Dec 2023 | HOSM |
|
Hospital Discharge routes to be improved and knowledge of when to refer with hospitals to be developed | · Countywide protocol agreement was implemented but requires follow up to ensure it is embedded. |
| Existing Resources | October 2024 | HOSM / HOTL |
|
Acronyms
HOH | Head of Housing | HDM | Housing Development Manager |
HOSM | Housing Options and Strategy Manager | TAC | Temporary Accommodation Co-Ordinator |
HATL | Housing Allocations Team Leader | HOO | Housing Options Officer |
HOTL | Housing Options Team Leader | PRP | Private Registered Provider |
HPO | Housing Policy Officer | HPA | Homeless Persons Application |
TSO | Tenancy Sustainment Officer | RSI | Rough Sleeper Initiative |
HPG | Homelessness Prevention Grant | SSMTR | Supplementary Substance Misuse Treatment and Recovery grant |
ESCC | East Sussex County Council | HFU | Homes for Ukraine |