Agenda item
Direct Hostel Provision, Move-on Accommodation and Support
Decision:
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RESOLVED: |
That the District Executive agreed to:- |
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a. |
approve an increase to the base budget of up to £160,000 per year from 2019/20 as an unavoidable budget pressure to provide funding for services to assist single adults who are in need of accommodation and to prevent homelessness. |
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b. |
award funding of £160,000 to Home Group, the current provider, for 2019/20 through extension of our existing Service Level Agreement for one year. |
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c. |
authorise officers to assess, develop and procure a longer term arrangement for 2020/21, and delegated the final decision on the route to procurement to the Director – Service Delivery, in consultation with the Specialist - Procurement and the Portfolio Holder for Leisure and Culture. |
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d. |
note the outcomes achieved as a result of SSDC funding in 2017/18, and funding awarded from Somerset Positive Lives partnership. |
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e. |
support the use of £100,000 of the Flexible Homelessness Support Grant (FSHG) as a one-off contribution towards the £160,000 cost in 2019/20, and note that contributions may be considered against any subsequent FSHG received in later years. |
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Reason: |
To secure future funding arrangements towards the cost of provision of services to assist single adults who are in need of accommodation and prevent homelessness. |
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Minutes:
The Portfolio Holder for Leisure and Culture introduced the report and highlighted the importance of hostel provision and support services to vulnerable individuals who might otherwise be homeless. She referred to the key elements provided by the services and the need to ensure funding was provided for future years.
The Welfare and Careline Manager noted that in response to Scrutiny Committee’s clarification on the financial implications, further information on the funding and costs had been provided. She was recommending that some of the recommended funding came from the Flexible Homeless Support Grant, received from the Government, is used for hostel provision and some for other preventions and initiatives. The Welfare and Careline Manager explained that the Hostel relied on funding from Somerset County Council to undertake additional health and well-being work with clients and it was not known whether the grant would be forthcoming next year.
Mr Nick Watkins from Home Group referred to the importance of addressing the deeper needs of people accessing the service. He explained about some of the support services provided to clients through the Home Achievement Programme, Peer Support Programme, Volunteering and Health and Well-being work.
In response to questions, the Welfare and Careline Manager and Senior Housing Options Officer advised:-
· Last year Pathways provided an extra ten beds during the severe winter months, a number of people were given meals and everybody was taken off the streets;
· The Positive Lives Operational Group had written to the Chair of the Positive Lives Strategic Board asking for an early indication as to whether one off grant funding from Somerset County Council would be repeated;
· The Rough Sleeper Outreach Team covered the whole district which was run by Home Group through Pathways. A member of the team, once alerted, would go out and provide support and assistance;
· Street Link was a national organisation for reporting rough sleeping. Contact details for the service and the process for reporting rough sleeping would be provided to the town and parish clerks and all SSDC Members.
The Scrutiny Committee Chairman confirmed that they supported the recommendations of the report.
At the conclusion of the debate, Members were content to confirm the recommendations of the report.
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RESOLVED: |
That the District Executive agreed to:- |
|
|
|
a. |
approve an increase to the base budget of up to £160,000 per year from 2019/20 as an unavoidable budget pressure to provide funding for services to assist single adults who are in need of accommodation and to prevent homelessness. |
|
|
b. |
award funding of £160,000 to Home Group, the current provider, for 2019/20 through extension of our existing Service Level Agreement for one year. |
|
|
c. |
authorise officers to assess, develop and procure a longer term arrangement for 2020/21, and delegated the final decision on the route to procurement to the Director – Service Delivery, in consultation with the Specialist - Procurement and the Portfolio Holder for Leisure and Culture. |
|
|
d. |
note the outcomes achieved as a result of SSDC funding in 2017/18, and funding awarded from Somerset Positive Lives partnership. |
|
|
e. |
support the use of £100,000 of the Flexible Homelessness Support Grant (FSHG) as a one-off contribution towards the £160,000 cost in 2019/20, and note that contributions may be considered against any subsequent FSHG received in later years. |
|
Reason: |
To secure future funding arrangements towards the cost of provision of services to assist single adults who are in need of accommodation and prevent homelessness. |
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Supporting documents:
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