HOMELESSNESS IN INVERNESS AN OVERVIEW

1
HOMELESSNESS ININVERNESS AN OVERVIEW

• Ian Brown, Day Centre Manager
• David MacIver, Streetwork Project
• The Highland Council, Housing Property Service.

2
Homelessness legislation in Scotland

• The Housing (Scotland) Act 2001 requires
  councils to provide a minimum of temporary
  accommodation, advice and assistance to all
  applicants assessed as homeless, regardless of
  whether they have been assessed as being in
  priority need
• Scottish Government.

3
2012 Target

• We have in place an ambitious target to
  eradicate the distinction between priority and
  non-priority homeless households by the end of
  2012. This will mean that all unintentionally
  homeless people are entitled to permanent
  accommodation at that time.
• Malcolm Chisholm (December 2005)

4
Applying as Homeless

• The Local Authority should
• Accept all homeless applications
• Provide temporary accommodation
• Make full enquiries
• Issues a decision in writing
• Inform applicants of right of review
• Provide advice and assistance

5
The Four Tests

• A legal duty to accommodate permanently is
  established when the applicant
• is HOMELESS,
• in PRIORITY NEED,
• not INTENTIONALLY HOMELESS
• and has a LOCAL CONNECTION.
• then you can wait for a house!

6
Temporary Accommodation

• Large numbers of applicants in temporary
  accommodation always operating at capacity.
• Contract beds 100 BB rooms and 60 bed-sit
  type rooms.
• Non-Contract 70 BB rooms, 8 shared houses and
  1 bed-sit.
• Temporary Furnished 90 properties
• well over 320 homeless households in LA
  accommodation at any time.

7
Other options

• Salvation Army Resettlement
• Homeless Trust Hostels
• Albyn Supported
• Cale House
• Flora MacDonald House
• Sacro
• Rehab/Prison/Hospital

8
Permanent accommodation

• There are very few properties available in
  Inverness.
• Only 60 LA voids at present most currently
  being repaired and the rest are already
  allocated!
• Most voids come up through a tenant dying. (Other
  ways include abandonment or evictions)
• Void turnover now about a fast as it could be
  (around 6 weeks).
• RSLs (e.g. Albyn and Cairn) also provide
  solutions.
• Since introduction of HHR in 2008 all partners
  working from same allocations policy and from the
  same waiting list.

9
Homeless Day Centre

• WARMTH/SHELTER
• FOOD
• FOOD VOUCHERS
• WASHING/DRYING
• LOCKERS
• CLOTHING
• TRIPS
• PROJECTS

• INFORMATION
• ADVICE
• TELEPHONE/FAX
• INTERPRETATION
• NHS
• OUTREACH SUPPORT
• HOUSING OPTIONS

10
Day Centre Staff

• 9 Day Care Officers
• Resettlement Officer
• Housing Needs Assessor
• Streetwork Project Officer
• Doctor
• CPNA
• CPN
• Homeless Nurse

11
Other services

• Several other services are available to Day
  Centre clients including
• Accommodations Officer
• Dentist
• Prison liaison nurse
• Interpreters
• Benefits maximisation officer
• Job Centre staff
• Literacy workers

12
In one sentence

• We aim to provide every client with the
  support to resolve their homeless situation and
  to address the issues at the root of their
  homelessness.

13
The Streetwork Project

• Outreach service designed to proactively engage
  with rough sleepers.
• Aim to prevent or shorten rough sleeping episodes
  as far as possible.
• Service began in Jan 06 but the post was created
  in Nov 07.
• Patrols in conjunction with the Homeless Nurse or
  other staff at the Day Centre.
• Monitors and records rough sleeping in Inverness.

14
Who sleeps rough?

• Those choosing to sleep rough.
• Those who dont know help is available.
• Those who we dont have a duty to accommodate.
• Those we cant accommodate.

15
The current rough sleeping situation

• 50 individuals known to have slept rough since
  1/11/8.
• Average per night is not less than 6 - probably
  higher.
• 66 have a significant addiction (almost always
  alcohol).
• 95 male.
• 95 single.
• 25 migrant workers.

16
Responses to rough sleeping

• Homeless application process
• Referrals to non-LA accommodation providers
• Help into private rented sector
• Help to return home
• Referrals to rehab beds
• a Night Shelter?