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The Housing Options Service Deborah Brown – Quality Team Manager

The Housing Options Service Deborah Brown – Quality Team Manager Christine Wharton – Customer Services Team Manager. Presentation Aims Describe the role of the Housing Options Service 2006/07 in: Preventing Homelessness Promoting Housing Options Supporting Vulnerable People

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The Housing Options Service Deborah Brown – Quality Team Manager

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  1. The Housing Options Service Deborah Brown – Quality Team Manager Christine Wharton – Customer Services Team Manager

  2. Presentation Aims Describe the role of the Housing Options Service 2006/07 in: • Preventing Homelessness • Promoting Housing Options • Supporting Vulnerable People • Improving standards in temporary accommodation

  3. Preventing homelessness • From Housing Assessment and Advice to Homelessness Prevention and Housing Options • Appointments for all clients threatened with homelessness • Quality Mark awarded by the Legal Services Commission in 2005. • Homelessness applications reduced by 70% since October 2005.

  4. Promoting housing options • All clients offered advice and assistance by visit or appointment. • All clients offered incentives to find their own accommodation privately. • The Homefinders and Landlords Incentive Schemes • 7 Westminster Council tenants arranged a move out of London • A Sanctuary Scheme for victims of domestic violence to remain at home.

  5. Supporting vulnerable people • Young People • Housing Act 2002 extension includes homeless 16/17 years olds in priority need. • All young people asked to leave the family home are now visited to mediate and prevent homelessness. • Partnership work with the voluntary supported housing sector to place 16/17 year olds in supported housing • Half of all ‘young person’ placements are in supported hostels, half in B&B.

  6. Supporting vulnerable people • Mentally vulnerable clients • High proportion of single homeless adults with mental health problems. • Joint Protocol regarding discharges from hospitals and homeless referrals. • New Housing Bulletin given to all Community Mental Health Teams • Better quality risk assessments introduced • Floating support through Westlink for 120 clients.

  7. Supporting vulnerable people • Other single clients • Probation Service Caseworker • Links with Rough Sleeper Buildings Based Services • Occupational Therapy assessments • Hospital discharge re-housings • Joint Assessments for all elderly clients

  8. Improving standards in temporary accommodation • Reduced reliance on Bed and Breakfast. • No families in B&B for longer than 6 weeks. • Closer monitoring of RSLs and focus on self contained properties where standards are below expectations. • New self contained units mainly for single clients

  9. Where next ? • Reducing homelessness acceptances through prevention and increasing our supply of private sector tenancies • Continual reviews for all priority cases on the Housing Register • Housing options from the beginning to the end of the process • Promoting more housing opportunities in other areas • Continue to provide a high quality chartermark service to our clients.

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