Coventry Homelessness Review 2024

Housing and homelessness strategy

The current Housing and Homelessness Strategy was published in 2019 and runs until 2024. It is aimed at providing a high-level plan to set out the main priorities for the Council and its partners for the life of the strategy, to guide the allocation of resources and investment, and provide a framework to inform project development, to achieve the vision that:

Coventry Citizens will be able to access a suitable, affordable, and decent home, with the support they need to sustain their housing.

In 2019 when the strategy was developed the Homelessness Strategy and Housing Strategy were combined into one document, this was done as it was recognised that activities to prevent homelessness were to a degree dependent on the availability of permanent housing.

Whilst great achievements have been made and the delivery of the housing and homelessness function and strategy have moved, developed, and changed since its initial publication, we have also seen a shift in terms of some of the priorities and the challenges that sit alongside these.

The Covid pandemic has changed the way we operate and deliver homeless services in the city. Staff began working from home in the early stages of the pandemic and, although there has been a drift back to the office, many staff still work from home. This has meant a swing from face-to-face to online contact or the telephone. Some people do not have the appropriate technology for this or prefer face-to-face contact, so the option to come into the office remains open to them.

The reported inflation rate stands at 3.2% ( march 2024) , and translates to an increase in housing, heating, and food expenses for households. These increases obviously have a significant impact on households with lower incomes. Concurrently, there is an increase in households approaching homelessness support with the top 3 reasons for losing settled accommodation (friends & family no longer willing to accommodate, PRS eviction, and Domestic Abuse) being in line with national and historical trends.

The implementation of the Homelessness Reduction Act in 2018 changed the way that homelessness services are delivered by local authorities. There have also been further changes to legislation, such as the Domestic Abuse Act, which placed further duties on local authorities to provide temporary accommodation to all who are homeless because of domestic abuse. Brexit has also been an influential factor, and changes made as part of the UK’s withdrawal from Europe have impacted who is eligible to receive homelessness assistance.

Alongside the wider changes and associated challenges, we are seeing a record number of households approaching the council for assistance and support.

Coventry published its first Rough Sleeping Strategy in December 2019, in line with a requirement by the Government for all Local Authorities to have a strategy to prevent and tackle rough sleeping. From the outset it was accepted that the successful delivery of the Rough Sleeping Strategy and Action Plan was not in the Council's power alone. Therefore, a One Coventry partnership approach is the only way that we will be able to ensure successful realisation of our vision, therefore the strategy needed to be owned, supported, and delivered by ensuring effective collaboration and partnership working.

Rough Sleeping Strategy

The Rough Sleeping Strategy and its Action Plan were reflective of and intrinsically linked to the Council’s Housing and Homelessness Strategy. The two strategies needed to be considered and delivered in tandem. Since the approval of the strategy in 2019 there has been a worldwide pandemic. Obviously, this has had a number of serious and negative impacts on individuals and society as a whole. In regard to rough sleeping there have been a number of positive outcomes in regard to our ability to accommodate and support some of the most entrenched rough sleepers in Coventry. The impact of this can be seen in the number of people accommodated as part of the ‘Everyone-In’ initiative.

The current Rough Sleeping strategy was reviewed during 2022 to reflect the shifts that had happened as a result of the covid 19 pandemic and the increased funding and support that was being provided for those rough sleeping or at risk of rough sleeping.

Achievements - Homelessness and Rough Sleeping 2019-2024

Preventing homelessness and supporting those who do become homeless

What we have achieved:

• The Homelessness Reduction Act duties have been fully integrated into the homelessness service.
• Regular reporting of metrics.
• Recruitment of Head of Housing, Housing and Homelessness Operational Lead (Accommodation Team) and Housing & Homelessness Commissioning and Partnerships Lead.
• Creation and expansion of Rough Sleeper Outreach Team.
• Publication of a Rough Sleeper Strategy and action plan
• Creation of a Temporary Accommodation Team.
• Service adapted to continue to deliver services during the Covid-19 pandemic and restrictions.
• Training provided to various council services and external partners.
• Duty to Refer procedures in place and training provided to relevant teams/organisations.
• Redesign of the Coventry Homelessness Forum.
• Regional work through the WMCA Homelessness Task Force
• Co-creation panel set up for those with lived experience of homelessness.
• Values and behaviours training for staff
• Updated information and advice on the website
• Dedicated Landlord Liaison Officer was recruited, and regular Landlord Forums were held.
• Focus on early identification and intervention for people at risk of homelessness.
• Homelessness commissioned services in place from April 2020
• Project to purchase properties for TA and Supported TA use.
• Creation of the Let’s Rent scheme.
• Improvement of TA options to reduce B&B use.
• New Homefinder Policy approved and implemented.
• Housing First scheme delivered

The impact

• Range of good quality temporary accommodation with a reduction in use of B&B type accommodation
• Enhanced provision for rough sleepers in regards to support and accommodation options following
• Increased preventions and reliefs resulting in more people either securing alternative accommodation or remaining in their existing homes
• Increased focus on prevention through the vulnerable person and complex needs forum and eviction prevention panel