5. Strategic Priorities

In response to consultation with partners, stakeholders and service-users, seven key strategic priorities have been identified. They will enable the East Kent authorities and their partners to build upon their achievements to date, and to tackle the ongoing problem of homelessness, which remains significant across the sub-region:

• Maximise housing options and choice for customers
• Prevent rough sleeping
• Promote sustainable private sector accommodation
• Help homeless people to secure and retain good quality accommodation
• Reduce the use of temporary accommodation
• Tackle youth homelessness
• Monitor performance and develop best practice in homelessness.

5.1 Maximise housing options and choice for customers

Effective homelessness prevention is about finding ways to avoid actual homelessness occurring. This includes help to access benefits, liaison with families, landlords and other agencies, and support through mediation. Key outcomes will include:

• The ongoing provision of housing options services to meet an increasingly diverse range of needs
• The effective implementation and monitoring of choice-based lettings (CBL)
• A greater focus on the prevention of homelessness
• Improved partnership working
• Maximise the role of RSLs in tackling homelessness
• Make better use of existing housing stock
• Promoting financial inclusion.

5.2 Prevent rough sleeping

Although the annual street count indicates that the number of people sleeping on the streets in East Kent is relatively low, it is widely believed that this does not reflect the true problem. Seasonal fluctuations are also relevant, and evidence suggests that many rough sleepers move between the four authorities, staying for short periods in each. The East Kent authorities welcome the countywide Outreach and Resettlement Service that commenced in January 2008. Delivered by Porchlight, it will build upon the strong track record that Porchlight has already achieved with its Outreach and Resettlement services (see section 3.4). Key outcomes will include:

• A reduction in the numbers of people sleeping rough
• Increased level of provision for those in acute need 
• Increased numbers of rough sleepers re-housed into permanent accommodation or reconnected with an area with family and/or other support networks.

 5.3 Promote sustainable private sector accommodation

The private rented sector has a significant role to play in meeting the housing needs of many households in East Kent. Demand for affordable housing is considerably in excess of supply, and for an increasing number of households the private rented sector is the only alternative. However in practice, accessing private rented accommodation is still a problem for the most vulnerable members of the community and the sector offers them little choice and little security of tenure. Key outcomes will include:

• Continued assistance for vulnerable households to access the private sector through initiatives such as the Rent Deposit Scheme. 
• Stronger joint working with Private Sector Housing Teams
• Fewer homeless presentations arising from enforcement action or illegal evictions

• Stronger dialogue with private landlords, improved standards of accommodation and management.

5.4 Help homeless households to secure and retain good quality accommodation

A high proportion of privately rented homes are occupied by low-income households who are dependent on income-related benefits. Many are vulnerable, and have difficulty maintaining a permanent tenancy without support. The East Kent authorities have a key role to play in ensuring that vulnerable households can access sufficient support to help them live independently. Key outcomes will include:

• Vulnerable people able to access support services appropriate to their needs. E.g. referral to specialist-supported accommodation, housing options advice, mediation services, outreach and resettlement and floating support services
• Vulnerable people able to access good quality private rented accommodation
• Future accommodation needs and related support services identified and planned for
• New accommodation-based services developed in partnership with key stakeholders.

5.5 Reduce the use of temporary accommodation

The Government has set a clear target for local authorities to halve the number of households living in temporary accommodation by 2010 (see section 1). Targets are based on temporary accommodation levels at December 2004, and as such vary between authorities (see Table 14).

Table 14  – 2010 Temporary Accommodation Targets

Temporary accommodation also needs to be of a high standard, and in a location that does not isolate vulnerable households from families, schools, employment and other support networks. Key outcomes will include:

• Achieving the Government’s 2010 target
• Existing temporary accommodation regularly monitored and reviewed
• Improved move-on provision
• Standard of existing temporary accommodation improved.

5.6 Tackle youth homelessness

Youth homelessness is also a key target for the Government. It has already been noted that an increasing number of young people are being accepted as homeless across East Kent (see sections 2.3 and 4.4) and that existing services to prevent and tackle youth homelessness are less than adequate. Key outcomes will include:

• Ending the use of bed and breakfast for 16 and 17 year olds in accordance with Government target
• More accommodation-based services for young people, in particular Shepway district, where there is currently no provision for young people at all
• Greater engagement with agencies that provide services for young people
• Positive outcomes for young people who are at risk of homelessness.

5.7 Monitor performance and develop best practice in homelessness

Section 7 outlines how performance is monitored within individual authorities, and across the sub-region as a whole. Key outcomes will include:

• Stakeholder, partner and service user feedback routinely obtained through surveys and focus groups; feedback used to inform service reviews and improvements
• Strengths and weaknesses identified
• Good practice shared
• Performance benchmarked with other authorities and service providers
• Service costs benchmarked with other authorities to ensure a value for money service.

Foreword

Executive Summary

Strategic Context

East Kent Perspective

Achievements and Progress

Reviewing the Service

Strategic Priorities

Resources and Funding

Monitoring and Reviewing

Action Plan

Appendix 1 - East Kent Homelessness Forum  

Appendix 2 - homelessness and priority needs categories

Appendix 3 - Service user consultation feedback summary

Appendix 4 - partners

Appendix 5 - Performance

Appendix 6 - Glossary of terms

Appendix 7 - anticipated funding and expenditure

Appendix 8 - local authority contact details

E-mail:

housing@thanet.gov.uk

Tel: 01843 577218