Decision details

In February 2016 the Council agreed the Housing Related Support Commissioning Strategy and Budget Plan for 2016 to 2020.

The Strategy recognised the need for gaps in service for homeless people with severe and multiple needs and set out how the Council would test and develop new and enhanced models of support to test these needs. One of the services it considered as desirable to test out was based on the ‘Housing First’ approach that has proven to be a success in the US and Canada and was having some success in Europe including the UK. However, the longevity of this success was still to be proven and the report recommended it be tested in Sheffield on a small scale before any long term larger commissioning of this approach was considered.

Further work has been done to understand the approach and to work with local partners to design a service to test out its success over the next three years.

The report sets out how the Council will develop a new model of housing related support provision in Sheffield based on the ‘Housing First’ approach, to improve the tenancy sustainment and health and wellbeing outcomes for long term homeless single people with complex and multiple needs.

The outcomes we expect to see include:

·         Reducing the number of the target population living on the streets

·         Improved health and wellbeing

·         Reduction of unplanned and regular use of emergency and crisis services, such as the A and E and the Police

·         Valuable learning about how new approaches to supporting homeless people can be implemented in Sheffield and the benefits they deliver.

To award a contract to Cathedral Archer Project for the provision of a housing related support service for single homeless people with multiple and complex needs (Housing First) from 1st June 2017 to the 31st May 2020, at a cost of £574,288 in total over 3 years, with the option to extend on a plus 2 year basis.

(a)       On 15th November 2016 approval was granted to tender for a Housing First Service. 

(b)       A planned 2-stage contract procurement process via YorTender has been undertaken.   At the second stage bids were scored by a panel according to quality and value.

(c)        Cathedral Archer Project achieved the highest score from the panel. Their bid is recommended as providing the best quality and value.

(d)       The bid is within the budget estimate for this service and funding is available within the service budget for the specified contract period.

The contract procurement process has been followed and there is no reason to consider alternatives as a result of the process.

The same need and justification for the service exists as at tender procurement stage and there has been no change which indicates that alternatives should be considered.