Agenda item

The Access and Change Together (ACT) Middlesbrough Lead Officer will be in attendance to deliver a presentation in relation to the Homelessness investigation.

The Access and Change Together (ACT) Lead delivered a presentation in relation to the Panel’s investigation into Homelessness.

 

The presentation included information around each Term of Reference previously identified by the Panel, as follows:

 

1.     To identify the current levels of homelessness in Middlesbrough.

 

The number of homelessness assessments and duties, from 2020 to the present were delivered.  This showed a year-on-year rise, with the most recent figure of 1185 assessments and duties recorded for Q1-Q3, 2024-2025.

 

Rough sleeper figures were also presented, with the most recent figure of 40 across the month of February 2025 being discussed.

 

2.     To understand the relevant section(s) of the Homelessness Reduction Act (HRA) 2017 in respect of Relief Duty and the Council’s responsibilities.

 

Members were briefed on the Prevention and Relief Duties brought in by the Homeless Reduction Act 2017 which added to existing duties from Housing Act 1996.

 

Specific reference was made to Sections 195 and 189B the Housing Act 1996.  Section 195 of the Act related to the ‘prevention duty’.  This placed a duty on Housing Authorities to work with people under threat of homelessness within 56 days to help prevent them from becoming homeless.  Section 189B of the 1996 Act, the 'relief duty' required Housing Authorities to help people who were homeless to secure accommodation.

 

Detailed information in relation to the Council’s responsibilities under these Sections of the Act, and other applicable legislation, was contained in the presentation and included information on timeframes in which the Council must discharge specific duties.

 

3.     To consider the Council’s use of temporary accommodation in the reduction of homelessness.   Consideration to be given to the impact on families, their health and wellbeing.

 

A snapshot number of households in temporary accommodation was presented, with the most recent figure of 117 households shown as of February 2025

 

Members noted that interim’ accommodation was only offered if the Local Authority had a reason to believe an applicant was homeless, eligible for assistance and had a priority need for rehousing. The LA would carry out enquiries and look at what duty was owed. If a main duty was owed, the applicant would be then offered temporary accommodation, which would be their accommodation until the homelessness duty was discharged.

 

Middlesbrough Council had a temporary accommodation policy which took into account the needs of the family, including children’s education, wellbeing and involvement with services.

 

Members were briefed on Middlesbrough’s Temporary Accommodation Commissioning Framework which came into place in early 2024, as follows:

·        Set nightly rates were paid.

·        Framework was opened periodically to attract new providers to the market.

·        Requested range of property types and locations (ideally Middlesbrough) to suit different household types and needs including accessibility.

·        The framework had helped significantly reduce hotel use.

 

4.     To consider Local Authority and multi-agency approaches to tackling the issue of homelessness and the resource implications around this.

 

Current multi-agency approaches were discussed, which included:

·        Rough Sleeping: Partnership working with housing organisations and charities was discussed. The Rough Sleeper Action Group was held monthly with a range of organisations including Cleveland Police, Probation, Adult Social Care, Accommodation providers, Substance Use and other Local Authorities.

·        Young People and Care Leavers: Protocols for Homeless 16/17 year olds and Care Leavers were underway.  Members were provided with the protocols, for information.

·        Children: Weekly practice clinic with Early Help & Stronger Families colleagues and attendance at MACH meetings.

·        Domestic Abuse: Partnership working with Domestic Abuse services around homelessness prevention where appropriate - Looking into legal orders, Sanctuary Scheme etc.

·        Adults – Attendance at safeguarding meetings for clients and attendance at High Risk Adults Panel (HRAP) and MAPPA

·        Escalation Panel - Introduced in February 2025 and aimed to address cases which required support from senior managers to resolve.

 

Members raised queries around the following:

·        Domestic abuse support and options for victims to remain in their homes.  Members were advised that support was always victim-led and that only those wishing to seek legal orders to remain in properties would be supported to do so.

·        Adapted properties for young people and waiting lists.  Members were advised that liaison with housing providers on this issue was ongoing and that adapted properties remain more difficult to source.

 

AGREED that the information, as presented, be noted.