Agenda item

The Cabinet Member for Housing presented the regular update report to Committee in respect of Homelessness and Rough Sleeper Services.  The report covered service developments, funding arrangements and the ongoing pressures across the homelessness support provision. The Change4Lincs rough sleeper service had now ended and was being transitioned to South Kesteven District Council’s Housing Options Team with the creation of two new in-house posts.  Recruitment to the posts was underway and existing staff continued to provide support and sign posting to those who were rough sleeping.

The winter Night shelter which was delivered in partnership with the Ark accommodated 22 individuals during the winter of 2025-26 with 14 individuals being supported into more permanent accommodation.  The shelter was estimated to have saved £34,000 in costs for nightly paid accommodation and provision had been made for the shelter to remain open year round at a cost of £35,000.

A new Homelessness Prevention Service had been launched by the Council in partnership with Living Concepts. The service was based on early intervention to allow a tenancy to be sustained.  The Prevention Service would provide the following:

·       Early Intervention – to prevent homelessness and deliver better outcomes and value for both residents and the Council

·       Comprehensive Support Services – tenancy assessment, support with budgeting, landlord mediation and property services and applications

·       Ongoing Engagement – regular check-ins during critical periods and follow-up after housing moves to maintain engagement and stability

·       System Benefits – effective prevention reduced temporary accommodation needs, eased system pressures and prevented family trauma.   The Service would be monitored regularly through monthly meetings with Living Concepts and it was hoped that the Council would see an improvement in the number of successful homelessness prevention cases.

The report was for noting.

One Member asked if there were many homelessness people in Stamford.  It was stated that in comparison to Grantham there were far fewer in Stamford.  Comments were made in respect of those begging in Stamford and it was stated that often those who were begging were not homeless and that enforcement was the responsibility of the Police not the Council.

A further comment was made in respect of the spike shown in Table 1 of the report on Homelessness case figures for April 2026 was there a reason for this.  The Head of Housing stated that figures often fluctuated and this could be in response to weather conditions or the cost of living, she stated that it was very difficult to have “trends” in relation to homelessness, there were often peaks in January and also in the summer months.  Also the new Renters Rights Act could impact homelessness figures and there were many complex reasons why people became homeless.

Other comments were made in respect of the new Service, and it was stated that this did not replace the Change4Lincs Service.  The new Service was aimed at prevention and would be monitored closely going forward with performance being presented to the Committee in due course.   The work carried out by Change4Lincs would be undertaken in house with two new outreach posts to support rough sleepers being appointed who would work within the South Kesteven area only.

The Vice-Chairman made reference to a letter that she had seen from Lincolnshire County Council which had been sent to Leaders within Lincolnshire in respect Housing Services. It was noted that this was in respect of Housing Services that were the responsibility of the County Council not the District Council and for which the County received funding.

Reference was made to the costs involved in overnight accommodation and also the increase in the number of veterans who were presenting as homeless.   It was stated that the average price of hotel accommodation was used when budgeting costs and the rise in veterans presented as homeless could be due to veterans being captured accurately at an earlier stage.

The number of successful preventions by the new Prevention Service would be monitored during the year and reported back to Committee.

Further comments were made in relation to homeless people and the Head of Housing referred to Street Link which was an online service which people could complete with as much detail as possible about the location of any homeless person which would trigger outreach workers to be mobilised to the location.

The Chairman confirmed that the new Prevention Service had been launched in April 2026 and thanked all Officers for their work in respect of Homelessness and Rough Sleeper Services.