Agenda item

The Cabinet Member for Housing presented the report which updated that Committee in respect of status and recent activity in respect of Homelessness and Rough Sleeper services.

The Change4Lincs Team continued to deliver outreach and support across the four local authority areas.  A new outreach worker was due to join the Team from 4 October 2025 which would enhance coverage in South Holland and South Kesteven.

There were four known rough sleepers as per mid-September and all were being actively supported.   The Council’s use of supported accommodation including a house in multiple occupation (HMO) was helping to transition individuals into more stable housing.

Members were referred to Table 2 of the report which showed the homelessness case figures.  As of August 2025 there were 247 cases with 70 individuals in temporary accommodation.

Additional funding had been received from Government which had enabled the creation of new roles and expanded support including a Temporary Accommodation Officer and a Resettlement Officer

It was proposed that the night shelter would reopen for the winter months and the Council continued to work closely with partners to meet resettlement obligations.  A proactive and compassionate approach was being taken to tackle housing need across South Kesteven.

The Chairman asked if the HMO in question was in respect of the Community Centre on Thames Road.  It was confirmed that it was the flats above the Community Centre that were being used as temporary accommodation.

One Member asked about work being undertaken in respect of rough sleepers in extreme weather and conversations that had been held with the Ark and Passage.  Also when a firm decision would be made in respect of the night shelter.  A question was also asked about how the HMO’s used for temporary accommodation would be kept safe and well managed and suitable for vulnerable residents.

The Head of Service, Housing stated that re-opening the night shelter had been challenging due to the location and the concern expressed by residents in the location.  Conversations were taking place and as soon as a viable location was known this would be passed on.   The Council was hopeful that a night shelter would be open but as yet the location had yet to be determined.

The HMO that had been referred to was part of the Council’s own stock, was up to the Council’s lettable and decent home standards.  The people placed in the HMO had a support package in place and had regular visits and was managed effectively.

One Member made reference to the number of tents that had previously been within her ward and she was pleased that these had reduced due to the work of the Housing Section getting people in to accommodation.  She asked for more information in respect of the partnership working that was being undertaken by the Council to provide “wrap around care” to people who found themselves homeless.  The Member also asked about having the night shelter opened during the day rather than just at night to give support to those who slept during the day due to issues they had with drug use.  A further comment was made about new tents that had appeared in Wyndham Park and the Paddock in recent days.

The Head of Service, Housing replied in respect of the Partnership working that was being undertaken with the Grief Advice Service and the Homelessness drop in service that was available on a Wednesday afternoon.  The service had started in the summer as a “cool space” due to the hot weather this would now be a “warm space” on a Wednesday afternoon during the winter months.  Although it was the National Grief Advice Service (NGAS), they used “grief” in the loosest term which could be the loss of a home, pet or job.  Mention was made about the National Bereavement Advice Service which although came under the same umbrella was a different service.  The NGAS dealt with “loss” of anything.  It was noted that take up was currently low but if it increased, work would be done to see if more warm spaces sessions could be arranged over the winter months, Officers attended the drop-in session every Wednesday afternoon to provide support.

The Head of Service, Housing then spoke about having the night shelter opened during the day which would be ideal, but unfortunately came down to the lack of funds to have it opened during the day.  The Council provided the provision at night and worked with partners to provide the staffing which unfortunately couldn’t be on a 24/7 basis due to costs. Reference was made to the new tents that had appeared which the Head of Service was aware of and Outreach Workers had already visited to discuss housing options available to them.   Monitoring or tracking was not undertaken as this was very difficult to carry out, all Officers could do was support those who were rough sleeping.  It was noted that some were on and off the streets for a number of years and Officers were aware of these individuals with some having very complex issues.  Each case was looked at individually and accommodation was not always the answer it was having the wrap around support in place for that individual.

A questions was asked about Government funding and more support for rough sleeping to which the Head of Service stated the funding for next year was not known but acknowledged that the increase in rough sleeping was not just in South Kesteven the increase was also happening nationally.   The Director of Housing and Projects stated that the Council received its draft financial settlement at the end of December which would be when any extra funding would be known.

One Member asked whether there were any veterans who were active rough sleeping or presented as homeless.  It was noted that the Head of Service did not have the figures to hand but would come back to the Member with the exact figure in respect of active homeless cases that involved veterans.

ØAction

That the Head of Service, Housing provided the Committee with the number of active homeless cases that involved veterans.

A question was asked in respect of the properties managed by SERCO.

It was noted that SERCO managed resettlement properties on behalf of the Home Office not for the Council.  SERCO procure the properties in South Kesteven and fully manage those properties.   The Council were notified of properties that were proposed for procurement and could feedback about the properties in respect of “Do we think it is suitable for resettlement, were there any concerns”.  The Council did have the opportunity to feedback any concerns which the Head of Service had been undertaking.

A further question was asked in relation to the housing of migrants or homeless people within the district to which the Director of Housing and Projects replied.

Reference was made to veterans that were homeless and the Member hoped that they were receiving the tailored support as expected under a Council that had an Armed Forces Covenant Gold Award.  It was noted that the Homelessness and Rough Sleeper Manager would have the exact figures as they dealt with this on a daily basis and managed the service.  In respect of the Housing Allocation Policy there was a specific criteria that related to veterans.

Further questions were raised in respect of Team resources, staffing structures, accommodation for families who presented homeless and single people to which the Head of Service, Housing and the Director of Housing and Projects responded.  It was noted that a staffing structure would be provided at the next meeting of the Committee in respect of Homelessness and Rough Sleepers.

ØAction

That a staffing structure chart be provided to the Committee at its next meeting in respect of the Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Team.

The Chairman thanked Officers for the report and the massive amount of work that they undertook in respect of homelessness and rough sleepers.

(An adjournment took place between 3:30 – 3:45)