Current Issues and Campaigns

Survey of Needs and Provision (SNaP)

Homeless Link and Resource Information Service (RIS) have launched groundbreaking independent research in the field of adult disadvantage and homelessness. This is the first time the sector has had baseline demographic data on the state of the sector, showing the true complexity and vulnerability of the client group it supports.

To read a summary of the findings click here
For more information click here

A8 nationals in London homelessness services

A small but significant number of Eastern Europeans (otherwise known as A8 nationals) are turning to London’s homelessness services for help, according to new research published by Homeless Link today (5 September 2006).

Migration from the new EU countries has contributed an estimated £240 million to the economy in the first eight months alone since May 2004. The vast majority of those who have come to the UK have found work, accommodation and a place in the community. As the study reveals, however, some have found themselves homeless and destitute.

Surveying day centres, night shelters and outreach teams in London over a one-week period, the study revealed that one in seven of people accessing their services are A8 nationals. The majority of these can and want to work, and only need short-term help to get a job and a place to live, as well as language support.

Although homelessness agencies are responding to these needs with the limited resources at their disposal, they do not believe that their services are appropriate for this group, and they want to prevent A8 nationals from getting caught in the cycle of homelessness. 

Supporting People - a story of success

Homeless Link has produced a briefing document, Supporting People - a story of success, to highlight the importance of the Supporting People programme in advance of the government's Spending Review. We are inviting MPs to visit their local services for homeless people, funded through Supporting People, to learn more about what they do, to hear from the people they help and to support the case for Supporting People to be expanded in the Comprehensive Spending Review.

Manifesto

In the run up to the General Election Homeless Link has developed a range of policy priorities to influence the political debate. This culminated in the production of a manifesto, "Do you want to end homelessness?", which was launched at our Parliamentary Reception on February 22nd.

Homeless Link's evidence to the recent ODPM Select Committee Inquiry into Homelessness provides a general background to our policy stance on a number of key issues.

For further details please contact: charles.anglin@homesless.org.uk

Move on

The findings from London along with analysis of the financial and human costs have been released in our report "No room to move?" showing that 46% of mainstream hostel spaces in London are blocked. A further national survey of our members has revealed a similar situation across England & Wales, with 45% of spaces blocked.

Homeless Link solution:
Joint action by central government, local authorities, RSLs and the sector to provide new move-on accommodation:

• rent deposit schemes to allow people with low or no support needs to enter the priavte rented market.
  
• a ring-fenced supply of social housing for people with medium needs, backed up by "floating support".
  
• increased suplly of new-build supported accommodation.

Joined Up Government

National
The factors that lead to homelessness require solutions across government departments. While vital, housing alone will not solve the problem for many people, whose homelessness is linked to other needs. For example, many people using our members services suffer poor health, lack of basic skills, poverty, addiction or have spent much of their lives in institutions. Many have a combination of needs what we call multiple needs.

Regional & Local
All local authorities have now published their homelessness strategies. Our members have influenced many of these and are now partners in implementing action plans. However, homelessness is complex and there is much work to be done to ensure that these strategies link effectively with other strategies, such as health, drugs and alcohol and housing.

Homeless Link solution:
We are calling for the government s new Regional Housing Boards to produce Homelessness Plans as part of their Regional Housing Strategies to ensure better coordination and to make sure that their regional housing and planning strategies meet the needs of homeless people.

We re also seeking better co-ordination on the ground with joint commissioning between statutory agencies to deliver Local Homelessness Strategies

For more detail see our response to the Government s consultation on the new Regional Housing and Planning proposals:
http://www.homeless.org.uk/briefings/briefing.2004-12-06.3377663376

Supporting People

Supporting People is a government funding stream, administered by local government, that provides revenue funding to support vulnerable people to sustain their housing. Many of our members receive a high proportion of their income from this source. While the programme is very welcome in many ways, the recent allocations to councils means that in many areas the budget will be cut by x%, with savings supposed to come from efficiency savings. We re also concerned that the de-coupling of Supporting people revenue payments from Housing Corporation capital grants is discouraging investment in much needed new supported accommodation.

Given that most of the money pays for the time of support workers it is hard to see where efficiency savings may come from. We are concerned that this may threaten services in some area and we will be working with our members to monitor this closely.

Homeless Link solution:
We are calling for the current Support People allocation to be protected and uprated in line with inflation. We would also like to see the co-ordination of revenue & capital streams for supported accommodation.

Health

The Homeless Link solution:
Improve access to primary healthcare for homeless people through greater co-ordination, strengthening the PMS network and better access to local GPs

• Co-ordination of PCT Delivery Plans & Local Homelessness Strategies - with appointment of Regional Health & Homelessness Co-ordinators
  
• Improve training & resources for primary care providers to ensure they understand the needs of homeless people
  
• Allow homeless people to register with mainstream primary care providers via homelessness service providers
  
• Improve access to specialist health care provision for homeless people
  
• Increase access to multiple-needs services for homeless people
  

ASB

We believe that the balance between punitive measures aimed at tackling Anti Social Behaviour and positive support targeted at its long-term causes should be improved, in particular how more effective treatment could help reduce drugs & alcohol related ASB.

The Homeless Link solution:
Reduce levels of drug & alcohol dependency among homeless people & mini

• Increase funding of drug & alcohol treatment to reduce waiting times
  
• Establish a funding stream for pro-active drug & alcohol treatment outreach & support work, separate from criminal justice system
  
• Encourage local police services to establish a positive working relationship with service providers & users
  
• Reform DIP to allow homeless people not involved in criminal activity to access drug treatment
  
• Better co-ordination of DAAT strategies with homeless strategies - with DAATs represented on local Homelessness Taskforces
  
• Improve access to long-term harm minimisation support services
  

Reduce the levels of ASB behaviour among & affecting homeless people

• ASBOs used in conjunction with positive long-term support packages (i.e. around begging)
  
• Local Authorities to provide long-term pre & post tenancy support as first option before punitive action
  
• Tenancies only withdrawn if longer term support packages in place

Recent & Upcoming Meetings

Recent

• Oral Evidence to ODPM Select Committee Inquiry into Homelessness
  
• John Hayes MP - Conservative Housing Spokesperson
  
• London Housing Strategy consultation stakeholder meeting
  

Upcoming

• Matthew Green MP - LibDem Housing Spokesperson
  
• Paul Hackett - Special Adviser, ODPM
  
• Annual Parliamentary Reception
  

Homeless Link Cymru

Homeless Link Cymru members in many parts of Wales have expressed concern about the extensive use of bed and breakfast accommodation as temporary housing for homeless people in the country. The suitability and quality of B&Bs routinely used is known to vary widely, as are the periods of time homeless individuals and families may find themselves housed in this way. In partnership with Shelter Cymru, Homeless Link Cymru is calling for legislation in Wales to limit the use of bed and breakfast accommodation as temporary housing for homeless people, and for support for local authorities to develop more appropriate alternatives to their use. To see the joint statement to the Welsh Assembly Government, please visit the Homeless Link Cymru website www.cymru.homeless.org.uk.

In recent months a number of homelessness hostel providers in Wales have received instructions to discontinue their use of licences and introduce the use of assured shorthold tenancies for their residents. While supporting the principle that hostel residents must be provided with suitable security of tenure and protection from any unreasonable conduct on the part of project staff and management, many service providers fear that the change in hostel residents' legal status is liable to generate serious difficulties for hostel services, and may ultimately lead to additional street homelessness. On behalf of Rough Sleepers Cymru, and with the Support of Cymorth Cymru, Homeless Link Cymru is calling for the retention of licences in homelessness hostels, to be used in the context of fair and accessible hostel policies to protect residents from any potential misuse. Please see Homeless Link Cymru website for statement to the Welsh Assembly Government.

Inspired by services successfully operating in Holland, Germany, Switzerland and elsewhere, Homeless Link Cymru is supporting a multi-agency proposal to pilot a mobile safer injecting facility in Cardiff. The service would provide a safe and hygienic environment for homeless drug users in the city, supporting clients in moving away from using drugs in public spaces and reducing many of the risks associated with their drug use. The pilot project would also provide its highly-marginalised client group with a venue for medical advice and supervision, and a gateway to other specialist support such as housing and drugs treatment services. The steering group, involving agencies from both statutory and voluntary sector services, is very happy to have received expressions of support from DrugScope, local politicians, police officers, the ambulance service, and other service providers. For further information on this proposal please contact Homeless Link Cymru, or to find our paper on safer injecting facilities please see our website.

In partnership with Shelter Cymru and as part of the Welsh Assembly Government's review of Wales's National Homelessness Strategy, Homeless Link Cymru is co-hosting a national conference on 26th January 2005, in Llandrindod Wells. The event will provide an opportunity for anyone concerned about homelessness policy and services in Wales to express their views directly to Welsh Assembly Government representatives. For further details, please see www.cymru.homeless.org.uk or www.sheltercymru.org.uk.