Homelessness Strategy 2010-2014 Equalities Impact ...

Homelessness Strategy 2010-2014

Equalities Impact Assessment
September 2010

Equality impact, needs and requirements assessment form

Please use this form to record your findings, proposed actions, equality objectives and targets. Use the guidance notes to
help you do the assessment or contact the Equality Standard Project Manager if you need some advice

About the policy, practice, service or function you are assessing

Name of policy, practice, service or function: Homelessness Strategy

Assessment team leader name: Lisa Callow

Department responsible: Housing and Advice Services Service Area: Housing Options

Members of assessment team:

Name Position Area of expertise

Lisa Callow Housing Options Manager Head of Service for Homelessness and Housing
Register Management
Matt Palmer Single Point Of Entry Manager Manager of homelessness services for single
persons over 18yrs and childless couples
Jeremy Mason Housing Strategy Officer Author of the Homelessness Strategy and
Member of the Housing and Equalities Group
Moira Findley Carer ‘Critical Friend’ with knowledge and experience
of equalities issues
Andy Findley Member of Disabled Persons ‘Critical Friend’ with knowledge and experience
Disability Forum of equalities issues

Overview

A local authority’s duty to homeless people is contained within Part 7 of the Housing Act 1996, as amended by the
Homelessness Act 2002. In response to this legislation, Derby developed its first homelessness strategy in 2003 and has
now produced a new strategy for the period 2010-2014. The new strategy has been developed following a further review,
detailed analysis and consultation with a wide range of stakeholders and is now the subject of this equalities impact
assessment. (EqIA).
The Strategy takes a long-term strategic approach to tackling, managing and preventing homelessness; the key objective
being to prevent homelessness across Derby. It provides a vision as to how homelessness services should be delivered,
a set of key strategic priorities to further encapsulate the goals that derive from the vision, and finally a detailed action
plan to state explicitly how these goals will be achieved.
This EqIA is being carried out as part of the consultation process. Its purpose is to assess the impact of Derby’s
Homelessness Strategy (2010-2014) on the different equality groups with the intention of implementing remedial action
where this impact is negative and maximising access to services across all equality groups.
The end result we seek from this process is a strategy that has, where necessary, been amended so as to be more
inclusive and responsive to the needs of the various equality groups and other vulnerable persons.

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Question (1) Response/ findings

What are the main aims and objectives or The over-arching aim is to continuously improve services in the prevention
purpose of the policy, practice, service or and alleviation of homelessness in a holistic and sustainable way.
function that you are assessing?
The principle objectives are as follows…

 To prevent and reduce homelessness
 To provide settled and stable accommodation for those experiencing

homelessness
 To integrate housing support with other support services so as to

provide holistic and sustainable solutions
 To deliver services more effectively and efficiently by broadening and

strengthening partnership working.

Question (2) Response/ findings

Who implements, carries out or delivers the Homelessness and related support services are delivered by the Council in
policy, practice, service or function? Please partnership with a number of other stakeholders. These include Derby
state where this is more than one person, team, Homes, housing associations, NHS trusts, the LSP, and other organisations
department, or body – and include any outside such as the YMCA, DHA and other charitable bodies.
Supporting People provides funding for housing related support services
organisations who deliver under procurement delivered by many of these housing providers.
arrangements

Community and faith groups along with other voluntary groups also play an
active role

The Council is the lead body, and delivers our homelessness function
through the Housing Options Centre and Milestone House.

These organisations also provide accommodation and/or other support
services for homeless people. Resources are outlined under Section 4 of
the Homelessness Review.

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Question (3) Response/ findings

Who is affected by the policy, practice, service or Service users
function, or by how it is delivered? Such as, who
are the external and internal customers, groups, This includes homeless people, those threatened with homelessness and
or communities? those in vulnerable groups who may be more susceptible to homelessness.
It will therefore include groups such as:

 Rough Sleepers
 People experiencing DV
 Ex-offenders
 Substance mis-users
 Persons with mental health issues

 Ex-forces personnel
 Care-leavers
 Migrant workers/asylum seekers/refugees
 Households suffering social or financial exclusion
 Young people
 Persons affected by HIV/AIDS

Service Providers

Partner agencies who offer resources, advocate for/and support homeless
people; e.g., hostels, emergency accommodation, Derbyshire Housing Aid,
RSLs, SP supported providers, NHS/PCT and those listed in question 2
above. A full range of providers is detailed under Section 4 of the
Homelessness Review.

Question (4) Response/ findings

What outcomes do we want to achieve, why and What outcomes?
for whom? For example, what do you want to be
providing, how well, what changes or We aim to prevent and reduce levels of homelessness as far as possible.
improvements, and what should the benefits be But where it does occur, we aim to alleviate it as quickly as possible in a
for customers, groups or communities? holistic and sustainable way.
See also our ‘principle objectives’ in question 1.

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Why, and for whom?

Frequently, homeless people display mental and physical health problems
alongside substance mis-use. Homelessness also damages people's
capability - through loss of skills, through a loss of focus on employment
and through damage to their resilience and self-confidence. In preventing
and alleviating homelessness therefore, we are helping individuals not only
to sustain stable accommodation but to restore their health and self belief
and be in a position to make a genuine contribution to society.
Consequently, tackling homelessness not only benefits the well-being of the
homeless person themselves but also benefits their families, friends and the
community as a whole.
In detail…

Homeless groups or those at most risk of homelessness comprise the main
target of the service and are as follows:

1. Homeless single persons
2. Homeless families (including single parent families)
3. Rough sleepers
4. Young Persons and Care leavers
5. Offenders and ex-offenders
6. Persons fleeing domestic violence
7. Persons from abroad, particularly asylum seekers, refugees, and

economic migrants
8. Persons suffering from financial hardship and exclusion

The strategy sets out 37 different actions to tackle homelessness in these
groups. These actions can be broadly summarised under the following
headings:

1. Understanding, anticipating and tackling the primary causes of
homelessness

2. Further reducing or eliminating repeat homelessness and rough
sleeping

3. Improving measures to tackle youth homelessness
4. Expanding housing options by maximising the use of the existing social

housing stock.

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Question (5) 5. Working more closely with the private sector to increase housing
availability and choice
What existing or previous inspections of the
policy, practice, service or function are there 6. Reducing the use of unsuitable temporary accommodation such as
(other than EqIAs)? For example, Best Value B&B, particularly for groups such as families with dependent children
Inspections, policy reviews, research into the and 16-17 year olds.
effects of a policy or practice.
7. Increasing the provision of specialist accommodation for those with
What did they tell you? multiple or complex needs.

8. Improving availability and access to emergency accommodation
including hostels, refugees and night shelters.

9. Providing a more holistic service to persons at risk of homelessness
10. Broadening measures to promote financial inclusion
11. Improving links and referrals to services relating to health, employment

education and training, and also emotional, psychological and spiritual
well-being
12. Strengthening and expanding tenancy sustainment measures
13. Increasing our joint-working with partners in housing support and care to
further improve services
14. Improving links with primary care services and reviewing the provision of
day centre facilities
15. Improving our joint working with Children and Young People’s services
in accessing additional affordable accommodation for client groups at
risk of losing their homes due to crime or ASB.

Response/ findings

Previously

The previous Homelessness Strategy and particularly its action plan were
regularly reviewed by all partner agencies actively engaged in the
Homelessness Action Plan Steering Group. It was also subject to political
scrutiny by the cabinet member for housing and by the Community
Commission which carried out an extensive review in 2009.

Central government (through Dept Communities and Local Government)
also set targets in terms of homelessness outcomes. For example
Milestone House is measured on the number of people it helps to access
training, education and employment opportunities. DCLG also requires
statistical returns relating to the scope and incidence of homelessness

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along with actions to address it, use of temporary accommodation etc. This
was done quarterly as part of the ‘P1E’ returns.

The Council has also developed its own local indicators and performance
measures to supplement these national indicators in order to help further
assess the effects of the policy. These are detailed in The Housing Options
Business Plan and include reporting on

 Number of homeless households per thousand of the population
 Number of homelessness preventions
 Average length of stay in hostel accommodation
 Number of rough sleepers

And various others.

Currently

 Local and National indicators are still reported on as above through
DORIS, our performance monitoring IT tool.

 Political scrutiny continues by the cabinet member and the Adults Health
and Housing Commission.

 A complete review of the allocations policy has just been undertaken
which incorporates improved measures to cater for the needs of various
equalities groups.

 However, the largest and most thorough reassessment of the
homelessness strategy and practice has just been completed as part of
the ‘Homelessness Review’. This has resulted in a comprehensive
evaluation of the service and the context in which it is delivered. It ‘tells
us’ many things about the policy and its effect on the current
homelessness scenario as follows:

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The causes, levels and scope of homelessness: The number of
households found to be statutorily homeless has fallen year on year from
872 in 2003 to 257 in 2009. The primary cause of homelessness has
become ‘eviction’ by parents/relatives/friends. This has replaced domestic
violence and accounts for over 40% of all cases. Repeat homelessness has
been eliminated almost entirely, falling from sixty households in 2005 to
three in 2009.
The effectiveness of different tools to address homelessness. For
example, preventive measures at an early stage have been shown to be far
more effective at reducing over levels of homelessness than a reactive
response once crisis point has already been reached. It is this shift to
prevention that has brought about the falls in numbers described above.
New facilities such as those at Milestone House /YMCA Campus /
Centenary House are having a positive impact on vulnerable groups, those
homeless or at risk of homelessness, levels of ASB and street drinking, and
households that are financially or socially excluded.
The policy also has direct impacts on the various equality strands as
outlined in the response to the next question.

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Identifying potential equality issues
and factors

Question (6) Response/ findings

What do you already know about the equality The homelessness review identified a number of areas relating to equality
impact or need? For example, from research, impact and need, many of which relate to demographic changes. For
feedback, consultation or any performance example:
monitoring
Volume and composition of household units

Due to a number of cultural and economic factors, such as the propensity
for people to remain single for longer, and the increasing prevalence of
family break down, the total number of households is increasing, while the
average size of these households is decreasing. This trend impacts directly
on the numbers of households presenting themselves as homeless and on
the demand for affordable accommodation, particularly single person and
two bed accommodation.

Single parents remain the most vulnerable group to becoming statutorily
homeless, comprising in excess of half of the total throughout the previous
five years.

Age profile and population size

Derby has experienced an increase in the size of its population in the last
decade, and an over proportionate rise in the size of its elderly population.
This has resulted in more demand on the housing stock and more pressure
on homelessness advice services.

Despite an ageing population, younger age groups remain the most
susceptible to homelessness. The age ranges 16-24 and 25-44 have
comprised over 90% of all cases in the last four consecutive years.

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Ethnicity and Migration

Part of the increase in population size is due to migration, with many
households arriving via the asylum dispersal system; or as working
migrants, predominantly from Eastern Europe. A sizeable minority have
also simply moved to Derby from other parts of the UK. This has resulted in
a growing diversity and size of BME communities in Derby. Our research
has shown that BME1 households are more susceptible to homelessness
than non-BME, accounting for 20% of the general population but over 30%
of homeless households.

The Equalities Impact Assessment of the Homelessness Strategy which
was conducted in 2007 highlighted a number of the points described above.
It also observed that:

 People with additional needs through disability, old age, youth, or those
who struggle to understand processes and systems because English is
not their first language may find it more difficult to access homelessness
services. Similarly, those groups less IT literate or without the use of a
computer may find it difficult to access services which are increasingly
being delivered online (such as advice services and signposting to other
support agencies).

 There is a need for continuing and regular consultation with all service
users and potential service users across al of the equality strands.

 There remains a small but persistent group of households, including
eastern European migrants and failed asylum seekers, with no legal
recourse to public funds. These households are at danger of destitution
and at present rely solely on charitable support.

1 Using the 2001 census definition of BME, that is, all ethnic groups other than White British

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Question (7) Response/ findings

Is there any evidence of higher or lower take up 23% of Homefinder applicants are from BME groups.

under the policy or practice, or of the service or P1E Statistical returns and other monitoring processes show an increased
susceptibility to homelessness amongst certain equality groups as
function for any particular groups? For described above – e.g., the over-representation of BME groups.
example, who uses the service, who doesn’t and

why not?

It is also recognised that some people struggle to understand procedures

when accessing homelessness services. Furthermore, all homeless people
are ‘by definition’ vulnerable, so any additional obstacles to accessing
services - e.g., people with disabilities, young people - mean that
additional help and advice is necessary to prevent these groups being

excluded.

To address this type of issue, specialist preventative services have been
developed specifically for potentially homeless people with disability, older
people with additional care needs, young people, women (and men)
suffering domestic violence and ex-offenders. In addition, interpretation
services are offered to anyone presenting at the Housing Options Centre
who has difficulty understanding English due to it not being their first
language.

Some additional services are provided generically but take up is higher from
some groups rather than others. For example the Mortgage Rescue
Scheme is available for all to access but mortgages are held in greater
numbers by middle aged and older persons than younger persons.

Further analysis of take up will be undertaken with our new IT system –
HOAMS (Housing Options Advice Management Service) This will allow us
to drill down into performance issues and report on workload for advisors
dealing with homeless approaches/acceptances. It will also enable drilling
down into the equality strands currently monitored - Age, Ethnicity,
Disability, Gender, along with reason for homelessness or for seeking
advice and assistance. It will record the actions taken by the staff in
preventing homelessness, and allows identification of any developing trends
relating to homeless approaches. The package allows for monitoring of who
is using the service and why.

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Hard to reach groups. Although increased reliance on electronic means to
access advice potentially excludes those that are not IT literate, staff
support is in place to act on behalf of these groups. This is coupled with an
increasing focus on home visits to reach persons who are unable/unwilling
to visit Council premises.

Question (8) Response/ findings

Have there been any important demographic This question has been addressed in some detail in response to the
changes or trends locally? For example is the question (6) on page 10-11
population changing, and if so, how and what
might that mean for the service or function?

Question (9) Response/ findings

Is there an indication that any of the policies or  Policies and procedures can be confusing for people not familiar with
practices involved with the service or function
creates particular problems or difficulties for any them or British culture or language. Interpretation services are therefore
groups of customers or communities? needed – and provided - to ensure people maximise their options to

secure accommodation.
 Anecdotal evidence suggests that some people from BME communities

are reluctant to access hostel or refuge accommodation.
 People from some cultures are reluctant to access services – i.e. help

with domestic violence because of the apparent stigma attached. This

can lead to situations worsening before a potentially homeless person

asks for and receives help.
 Government policy prevents Local Authorities providing assistance to

destitute, ‘failed’ asylum seekers and certain migrants from the A10

countries. This often hidden issue can result in household overcrowding

and rough sleeping. It may affect community cohesion, and contribute to

many of the problems associated with serial homelessness, including

deteriorating physical and mental health. (The voluntary sector is the

only body lawfully able to support destitute failed asylum seekers and

they cannot receive public funds to do so.)
 Rough sleepers and street drinkers who sleep rough are a very socially

excluded group who often struggle to access services including advice

services. An outreach service has just been set up (Autumn 2010) to

improve engagement with these groups.
 People who have a disability and are also experiencing homelessness

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are more vulnerable because in some circumstances, homelessness
can be life-threatening for them. This means that additional help and
often a multi-agency approach are necessary to meet their needs.
 The creation of the single point of entry assessment centre at Milestone
House has led to complaints from the community that it has led to
loitering and nuisance, including ASB. However, an action plan involving
SPE staff, the police and the anti social behaviour team has been set up
to address this.

Homeless households who have a household member with a physical
disability find it more difficult to access suitable accommodation to meet
their needs. This inevitably means the applicant will have to wait longer for
a property. This is primarily because there is a lack of adapted properties
available or because an existing property cannot be adapted due to its
physical constraints. Budget restraints for disabled adaptations means that
the waiting time for all cases other than emergency and priority 1 is
currently 2 years or more.

Question (10) Response/ findings

What information or data exists? For example,  P1E returns – Homelessness statistics – produced on quarterly basis for

statistics, customer feedback, complaints, CLG.

research, monitoring – who keeps it and can you  Abritas data monitoring systems (in the process of being replaced by

get hold of it? HOAMS – see above) constantly updated to record all instances of

homelessness, what homelessness prevention advice is given, how long

people are actually homeless, what support they are given, what

accommodation, how long they stay in temporary accommodation, what

short and long term solutions are found to solve their homelessness

situation. All of this information is collected by age, ethnicity, where

disability is present and by gender.

 Customer service monitoring is carried out at HOC, Milestone House,

and more broadly for the Council by Derby Direct.

 There is extensive peer review amongst SP funded providers of

homelessness services

 Monitoring is currently recorded across the four equality groups of age,

gender, ethnicity and disability. It will be rolled out to cover religion/belief

and sexuality in 2011.

 The Homelessness Review 2010 provides a thorough and in depth

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appraisal of homelessness and homelessness services in the city

The data is stored electronically or in hard copies and is readily accessible
for scrutiny and analysis.

Question (11) Response/ findings

Do any equality or diversity objectives already Below is a table of recent past and current objectives and progress made to
exist? If so, what are they and what is current date where applicable
performance like against them?

Objective Progress/performance
Reduce number of homeless acceptances Totals fallen from 872 in
across all equality strands 2005 to 257 in 2009

Upgrade HOC reception and make DDA Achieved 2006
compliant

Ensure the IT system does not Abritas installed in 2007
disadvantage sections of the community which allows better
monitoring and
consequently fairer
treatment across all
sections of the community.
HOAMS installation as a
further improvement now
underway.

Provide a focussed mediation service for the Achieved in 2006 and
most vulnerable, especially young people ongoing.

Reduce reliance on B&B for housing Achieved 2008 and
homeless people – eliminate it altogether for ongoing

16-17 yr olds except in specific emergency

situations

Review equalities impact on homelessness Scheduled for early 2011
advice and prevention of the new allocations
policy

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Improve measures to engage and support Commence autumn 2010
rough sleepers including the establishment
of an outreach team

Make home visits in all cases where Commencing Dec 2010

homelessness is threatened due to
relationship breakdown and ‘family eviction’.
This will improve engagement with hard to
reach groups and further support the
prevention agenda

Secure continued funding for the Domestic March 2011
Violence case worker

Develop a complex case panel to coordinate March 2011
a response to the needs of client groups
with multiple and complex needs

Improve clarity of and access to pertinent Ongoing
information and sign posting, while
maintaining/improving translation services
and helping the elderly access online
provision.

Question (12) Response/ findings

Is the service having a positive or negative effect Overall, the service is having a positive and supportive effect on a range of

on particular people in the community, or vulnerable groups with regard to the prevention of homelessness and the

particular groups or communities? provision of suitable stable accommodation. For example:

 Positive effect on young people – prevention, mediation and partnership
working all part of the support package.

 Support to people suffering domestic violence mainly assists and
advises women and prevents homelessness. The Sanctuary Scheme is
designed to help victims of domestic violence develop the confidence to
remain in the home.

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 Support for rough sleepers and street drinkers - working in partnership
with a range of service providers to assist them in addressing their
health and accommodation needs and achieving more stable and
settled lifestyles

 The Community Care Service assesses need for homeless and
potentially homeless disabled people and people who are discharged
from hospital with a community care need.

There are occasionally some negative impacts. For example, the rehousing
of ‘disruptive’ persons or those with ‘chaotic lifestyles’ to a communal block
can cause nuisance for other residents. This problem can be exacerbated in
the case of individuals with mental health problems which are not
recognised or not considered to be of sufficient severity to qualify for
additional medical care and support.

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Collecting the information and data about how the policy, practice, service or
function, impacts on communities

Please record your information and data in this table and think about:

 what information or data you will need
 using both quantitative and qualitative data
 making sure that where possible there is information that allows all perspectives to be considered
 identifying any gaps in the information/ data and what it can tell you

Data or When and how was Where is it from? What does it tell you? You need to Gaps in
information it collected? consider all six equality strands information
where you can
Customer
satisfaction During and after From customers and Generally there are good or very good Very limited
surveys visits to Council service users vesting levels of customer satisfaction with the collection of data on
premises HOC and Milestone services provided. Where feedback sexuality or
Customer House identifies necessary action for any of the religion/belief as yet
complaints equalities groups this is responded to but it is intended to
appropriately. For example, improved incorporate
access and alterations to make HOC monitoring of these
DDA compliant were brought about groups from 2011
following customer feedback.

Complaints collected Housing Options Complaints about
in Housing Options Centre / Milestone customer inability to
House access social
Centre and housing are often
Milestone House. All confused with
dealt with via DCC’s complaints about
complaints service delivery.
procedure.

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Data or When and how was Where is it from? What does it tell you? You need to Gaps in
information it collected? consider all six equality strands information
where you can

Consultation BME Housing BME Housing Issues re: accessing service Very limited
and Strategy Strategy collection of data on
community consultation and Housing needs and resources for older sexuality or
involvement research Older Persons’ people religion/belief as yet
Housing Strategy but it is intended to
Older Persons’ incorporate
Housing Strategy monitoring of these
research groups from 2011

Rough Sleeper Identifies number of people sleeping
Count and street rough on Derby City Centre streets on a
audits given night in winter. Many are already
known to Housing and Advice Services
but there is no formal collection of
information about those who may prefer
to be anonymous or cannot be
approached due to being under the
influence of alcohol.

Homelessness Presentations Service providers and Gaps in service provision and possible
strategy /meetings and email users, Council officers remedies / feedback on strategic focus
consultation correspondence and elected members and improved delivery of the function /
(with opportunities for improved partnership
stakeholders) working

Homelessness Presentations Diversity forum Engaging with hard to reach
strategy /meetings members communities / adopting a more holistic
consultation approach / improving measures to
with the assist migrant workers and failed
diversity forum asylum seekers / homelessness and
human rights / improving interpretation
services / addressing the spiritual
aspects (whether faith-based or not) of
the needs of homeless persons

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Data or When and how was Where is it from? What does it tell you? You need to Gaps in
information it collected? consider all six equality strands information
where you can

Performance Generally reported From staff recording Monitoring takes place on a number of Very limited
information on monthly or outcomes in areas performance indicators, including those collection of data on
quarterly though such as levels of required by government and those sexuality or
relevant returns are homelessness / developed locally religion/belief as yet
compiled on a daily prevention & relief / but it is intended to
basis. use of temporary incorporate
accommodation / monitoring of these
number of single groups from 2011
homeless people
supported to access
education,
employment and
training

Local data on Derby’s shared ‘Shared Evidence
Demography, evidence base is Base’ / State of the
Community developed using City Report - sourced
Cohesion, both primary and from the public,
Economic secondary data. private and voluntary
Well-being, The data is collected sectors and includes
Education and at the lowest data from the Council
Lifelong geographical level and partner
Learning, possible to enable organisations.
Health and the needs of
Social Well- different
being, geographical
Community areas/neighbourhoo
Safety, ds to be assessed.
Housing, Wherever possible
Transport, the data is also
Environment, collected for the
and Culture different equalities
groups to allow the
needs of different

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Data or When and how was Where is it from? What does it tell you? You need to Gaps in
information it collected? consider all six equality strands information
where you can

groups and
communities to be
identified.

Take up and P1E returns Information collected Breakdown of categories of .
usage data Abritas IT system on homelessness
HOAMS IT system approach and homelessness approaches by age,
Local Area following
Agreement homelessness gender, ethnicity and when disability is
HSSA Information interview present. Data also collected on ‘number
CIPFA Information
of vulnerable persons helped to achieve
independent living’.

Comparative Local information Strategic
information or collected on state of Housing Market
data where no housing market, Assessment Study
local affordability of 2007
information housing, supply of
housing

Census, 2001 Census Derby’s population reflects national
national or trends in migration, diversity, and age
regional 2007 – population profile.
statistics review by ONS /
DWP has reflected
increase in Derby’s
population due to
migration

Overall national
picture of increased
migration and
increasing diversity
of communities and
cities.

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Data or When and how was Where is it from? What does it tell you? You need to Gaps in
information it collected? consider all six equality strands information
where you can

Access audits DDA Assessment of DDA Work needed to bring Housing Options
or Housing Options
assessments premises Centre up to required standard for DDA
such as DDA compliance – now completed.
assessments

Information Start of Derby Direct Training will be needed on use of
gathering on Service has led to interpreting services and responding to
BME monitoring of all initial need for signposting to
households phone contacts to homelessness services
accepted as Housing Options
homeless, as Centre
part of the
P1E return
monitoring

Workforce Certain ethnic groups are Lack of monitoring
profile underrepresented of sexuality and
religion/belief

Where service
delivered
under
procurement
arrangements
– workforce
profile for
deliverers

Monitoring
and scrutiny
outcomes

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Analysing the information and data and setting equality objectives and targets

A number of equalities objectives have been identified as part of the strategy consultation process and these are detailed on
pages 28-29. Additional objectives identified in this EqIA are tabulated below and also repeated in the table on 29-30.

Service or function Policy or practice Findings Which groups are Whose needs are not
affected and how being met and how?

Housing Options Homelessness Currently information These two equality Possibly these two
Centre / Milestone Strategy not collected on groups could be equality groups.
House sexuality and affected in terms of
religion/belief access to Action: commence
homelessness services monitoring of these
and housing allocation. groups in the new
HOAMS IT system.

Housing Options Homelessness Creating a more Persons for whom Action: install welcome
Centre / Milestone Strategy welcoming impression’ English is not their 1st signs in multiple
House language languages in reception
across different areas.

languages should be

expanded.

Housing Options Homelessness The ageing population Older Persons. Action: improve
Centre / Milestone Strategy means potentially more engagement with the
House older people are at risk elderly through greater
of homelessness. links with Age UK
(formerly Help the
Aged and Age
Concern)

Housing Options Homelessness Engagement with ‘hard BME groups, new and Action: facilitate
Centre / Milestone Strategy to reach’ groups emerging communities greater representation
House and other vulnerable from equalities groups
remains variable. groups and community reps in
the homelessness
strategy monitoring and
scrutiny process.

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Objectives - process, impact or outcome based

The main objectives are recorded on the table below on page 27 onwards. In addition to those the following specific,
quantifiable objectives are drawn from the HOC business plan and will apply across all equality strands.

Objective/Target: Rough sleeping to be reduced to as close to zero as possible
Specific
Measurable Yes
Achievable Yes – through rough sleeper ‘audits’.
Relevant Yes*
Timed Yes
To be achieved by 2012-13

Objective/Target: Increase homelessness prevention.
Specific
Measurable Yes
Achievable Yes – through DCLG homelessness reporting procedure
Relevant Yes*
Timed Yes
By 2011: 1300; By 2012: 1400; By 2013: 1500.

Objective/Target: Resolving cases where households have become homeless
Specific Yes
Measurable Yes – through DCLG homelessness reporting procedure
Achievable Yes*
Relevant Yes
Timed 12 households per thousand p.a. by 2010-11

*Subject to current funding levels being maintained

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Objective/Target: Reduce overall levels of households becoming statutorily homelessness
Specific Yes
Measurable Yes – through DCLG homelessness reporting procedure
Achievable Yes*
Relevant Yes
Timed Reduce year on year to 250 p.a. by 2012-13

Objective/Target: Reduce the number of households living in Temporary Accommodation
Specific Yes
Measurable Yes – through DCLG homelessness reporting procedure
Achievable Yes*
Relevant Yes
Timed Reduce to 30 by 2012-13

Objective/Target: Increase the number of single homeless people supported to access education,
employment and training.
Specific Yes
Measurable Yes – through DCLG homelessness reporting procedure
Achievable Yes*
Relevant Yes
Timed Increase to 80 by 2012-13

*Subject to current funding levels being maintained

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Monitoring and reviewing - incorporating into performance management

Please summarise your objectives and targets in this table with your proposed monitoring and reporting arrangements

Objective Planned action Target performance Responsible Reporting cycle,
for example,
2009/10 20011/12 2012/13 lead officer quarterly
Annual and
Ensure the IT system Implement a new IT  ongoing
does not system (HOAMS) for
disadvantage sections housing advice and Matt Palmer Quarterly
of the community homelessness services
which monitors across N/A
all six equality strands.
TBC
Ensure that Reduce the number of    Lisa Callow
Annual and
homelessness is homelessness ongoing

reduced for all acceptances 26

sections of the

community

Ensure persons of all Install ‘welcome signs’  Lisa Callow
nationalities are in all the most widely
welcomed used languages at HOC
appropriately and Milestone House

Further reduce the Establish outreach  Glyn Hawkes
extent of rough
sleeping teams to engage rough

sleepers and develop

individual plans for
‘routes out of
homelessness’

Improve measures to Expand mediation  Glyn Hawkes
address youth services for landlord
homelessness /tenant disputes and for
where family and
friends are no longer
able /willing to
accommodate

Objective Planned action Target performance Responsible Reporting cycle,
for example,
2009/10 20011/12 2012/13 lead officer quarterly
Weekly and
Increase access to Expand the number of  Trisha Thomas ongoing
‘difficult to reach’ home visits by housing Ongoing
advisors
households. Annual and
ongoing
Broaden engagement facilitate greater  Lisa Callow
across equalities representation from Annual and
groups and increase equalities groups and ongoing
their involvement in community reps in the
the homelessness homelessness strategy Ongoing
strategy monitoring and scrutiny
process

Ensure most Reduce reliance on bed    Lisa Callow

vulnerable not housed and breakfast

in B&B establishments for

accommodation housing the homeless

Ensure new Undertake EqIA of the  Kim Morgan
allocations policy new policy
does not
disadvantage any of
the equality groups in
respect of
homelessness
services

Adopt a more holistic Offer a comprehensive  Lisa Callow
approach to housing options
preventing and interview for all those
alleviating approaching HOC/SPE
homelessness across for the first time
all equality groups

27

Objective Planned action Target performance Responsible Reporting cycle,
for example,
2009/10 20011/12 2012/13 lead officer quarterly
Ongoing
Improve access to Complete the  Yasmin Fazil
services and  Ongoing
signposting to preparation of a Lisa Callow
relevant support ‘welcome pack’ for  Report by 2011
agencies Matt Palmer /
foreign nationals and Glyn Hawkes March 2011

distribute widely. i) Anne Marriott Ongoing
ii) Matt Palmer
Help tackle Report to the Gang and iii) Kim Morgan
homelessness caused Licensing Authority all
by migrant workers employers who have Matt Palmer
wrongly not being breached requirements
registered and to register migrant
therefore unable to workers
access public funds

Reduce destitution Explore the prospects 
amongst migrant of setting up a 
workers and failed destitution fund or some
asylum seekers suitable alternative
provision for groups
with no access to public
funds

Improve engagement i) Carelink – through
with older persons ‘First Contact’
and improve links ii) HOAMS – expanded
with organisations
such as Age UK. service
iii) Homefinder –

amended following

allocations policy

review

Respond more Develop a complex case
effectively to clients panel to coordinate a
with multiple needs response to the needs of
client groups with multiple
and complex needs.

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