Content

Cabinet:
 

(1)           
approve the budget allocation relating to the Families in Housing
Need Programme, including the establishment of a Flexible Support
Fund and delegate authority to the Strategic Director of Place, in
conjunction with the Portfolio Lead Member, to approve the final
eligibility criteria for the fund;
 

(2)           
note the plans to support residents in temporary accommodation to
increase their working hours and therefore avoid the Benefit
Cap;
 

(3)           
note plans to develop an enhanced Renters Advisory Offer for
residents living in the PRS;
 

(4)           
note the reintroduction of the use of some face-to-face
homelessness assessments, as part of a hybrid approach to customer
contact;
 

(5)           
note plans to improve temporary accommodation supply and staff
recruitment and retention within the Prevention and Assessment
team; and
 

(6)           
note the Shelter review of homelessness services which will be
undertaken as part of the 2023/24 Audit plan.
 

OPTIONS AND ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED

The duty to provide homelessness
services to all households who are eligible for assistance and
homeless or at risk of homelessness is set out in Part VII of the
Housing Act 1996 (as amended).

Introduced in 2018, the Homelessness Reduction Act
2017 significantly broadened access to housing options assistance,
particularly for single households which, in London Borough of
Waltham Forest, make up approximately 50% of all approaches to the
Housing Options and Support Service.

The context set out in section 3.2 of the report
highlights the considerable pressures faced by residents and the
importance of upstreaming efforts, in collaboration with other
Council departments and partner organisations, to support
households. An alternative approach would be to continue the
current model of service delivery, however, as this does not meet
the growing need of Borough residents, it is not
recommended.