To receive a report on proposed changes to Herefordshire’s Housing Allocations Policy recommended by the Home Point Partnership Review Group.

The Committee received the Housing Allocations Policy, as recommended by the Home Point Partnership Review Group.  The Head of Strategic Housing Services reported that the Scrutiny Review of the Homepoint Allocations Policy had identified a number of policy suggestions for consideration, and the policy before the Committee was still in draft form.

He went on to say that the changes to the Allocations Policy were outlined in the report.  Of particular importance was the change to clarify the procedure for officers to add or change bids when applicants to whom the full homelessness duty is owed were not applying regularly for properties, or for suitable properties.  The aim was to ensure that applicants worked proactively to secure settled accommodation through Homepoint, and would also help reduce the average length of stay in temporary accommodation.

He went on to say that Policy wording had been added to confirm that a Discharge of Homeless Duty could be achieved through an allocation by a private landlord to a property through an Assured Shorthold Tenancy. This would ensure that applicants were aware that best use was being made of all available housing options for discharging homelessness duty.  In addition, preference given to those needing adapted properties for medical need had been strengthened. The policy aimed to ensure applicants were clear that their suitability for an adapted property could override relative banding. Registered Providers were increasingly consulting with Occupational Therapist’s in matching adapted property to suitable applicants,  and the Review Group wished to see the appropriate letting of adapted property maximised.

In the ensuing discussion, the following points were made:

• In reply to a question from a Member, the Home Point Manager replied that the County would be obliged to house young people placed in care in Herefordshire from out of county.  

• In reply to a further question, the Home Point Manager said that young people in foster care could expect to be housed from the age of eighteen, and a waiting time was built in for these individuals when they turned seventeen.

• A Member expressed her concern regarding overcrowding, and pointed out that anyone who was above the Silver Band in the current scheme would find it very difficult to successfully bid for accommodation.  The Home Point Manager replied that seventeen properties were available each week, and every effort was made to accommodate people on the waiting list, but it was conceivable that many in the Silver and Bronze Bands would not be rehoused.  A waiting list system would not improve the situation, as Registered Providers would not allocate people to overcrowded accommodation in order to let a household move from an existing house.  There were currently 800 cases in the Silver Band, and 50 cases of overcrowding.

• In reply to a suggestion from a Member, the Head of Strategic Housing said that there were plans for three projects that would provide young people with construction skills whilst renovating empty properties.  These were sheltered schemes that provided housing whilst the training was ongoing.  The Team would continue to look at opportunities, and would feed ideas into the Homelessness Strategy Group.

RESOLVED: That the report be noted.