Agenda item

6.1

The Executive Director, Communities Portfolio, submitted a report on bed and breakfast accommodation used for homeless households in Sheffield, including details of plans to introduce a Supported Accommodation Pathway for homeless households in the City.  The report attached, as appendices, a schedule of requirements, requested by the City Council’s Housing Solutions, of providers of bed and breakfast accommodation, together with the various forms regarding the terms and conditions of bookings.

6.2

Members of the Committee raised questions and the following responses were provided:-

·                Whilst the requirement in terms of the accommodation was to provide bed and breakfast only, the Council used one bed and breakfast establishment, particularly for families, which had a kitchen, providing the users with the opportunity of cooking their own food.

·                The average length of stay for a homeless person or family in bed and breakfast accommodation was reasonably short. The Government has set a maximum length of stay for families in bed and breakfast at six weeks. The average length of stay in Sheffield was 6.94 days for singles and 6.42 days for families.

·                The Housing Solutions Service received very few complaints in connection with the provision of bed and breakfast accommodation and if a complaint was received by a provider, they would be expected to inform Housing Solutions and provide details of the complaint.

·                Whilst it was not possible to provide precise figures at this stage, it was envisaged that, out of the 245 units of temporary accommodation used by Housing Solutions, only a relatively small number of units would be out of use at any one time.  Details of the figures would be provided to Members. On average, there were 28 units vacant, either because they were unready to let or have recently become ready to let and were awaiting for a household to move in.

·                In the unlikely circumstance of all the units being full and where the Council needed to refer a homeless person or family, steps would be taken to free a place up at one of the units.  Alternatively, if the Council had prior notice, arrangements would be made to reserve a place in advance.

·                The Mortgage Reserve Scheme was a homeless prevention tool for homeowners who were at risk of losing their home through repossession. It enables households to remain in their homes by transferring ownership to a housing association. The Housing Aid Team assisted many more households to remain in their properties by negotiating with the lender, referring the households for money and debt advice and exploring affordable repayment options. The Team had just completed its 100th mortgage rescue.

6.3

RESOLVED: That this Committee:-

(a)

notes the contents of the report now submitted, together with the additional information now reported and the responses to questions now raised;

(b)

thanks Belinda Gallup, Service Manager, Housing Solutions, for attending the meeting to speak to the report, the contents of which have allayed some of the concerns expressed by the Committee with regard to the suitability of the bed and breakfast accommodation used by the Council to house homeless households; and

(c)

requests:-

(i)

the Executive Director, Communities Portfolio, to submit a report to a future meeting of the Committee on the draft Schedule of Requirements to enable Members to comment on its contents; and

(ii)

Members of the Committee to contact the Policy Officer (Scrutiny) in connection with proposed visits to a sample of the bed and breakfast accommodation presently being used by the City Council to house homeless households.