Industry News
Action to prevent vulnerable young people from becoming homeless
N
ew guidance for councils to ensure that young care leavers get the stable homes they need and prevents
them becoming homeless has been issued by the Government. Care leavers often struggle to cope with the
challenges of living independently at a young age without a family network, and they usually need help to access services or deal with specific problems they face. Without specialist help they can end up at risk of becoming homeless. To ensure this vulnerable group gets the
support they need, new guidance from the Ministry of Housing sets out how council housing departments and children’s services can work effectively together to support care leavers into settled accommodation. The good practice guidance recommends council
housing departments and children’s services produce a joint protocol setting out how they will work together to ensure:
• each care leaver has a tailored support plan as they transition to independent living;
• those at risk of homelessness are identified early and action is taken to prevent it; and
• a quick, safe and joined up response for care leavers who go on to become homeless.
The Government has written to councils reminding them that they can offer council tax discounts to care leavers. This is on top of the £3.2 million Whitehall funding per year announced as part of the Rough Sleeping Strategy to increase the support provided to care leavers at risk of homelessness or rough sleeping. This funding has been allocated to the 47 councils with the highest number of care leavers at risk of rough sleeping. Kelly Tolhurst, Minister for Rough Sleeping and
Housing said: “Young adults leaving care need firm foundations on which to build a stable home for themselves, and to help support them start their adult lives confidently so they can fulfil their potential. “The guidance we’ve published will help
key services ensure care leavers get the housing support they need is another mark of the Government’s resolute commitment of helping vulnerable people.” Children’s Minister Vicky Ford said: ”Young
people leaving care too often face daunting transitions to adulthood, without the support system many of us take for granted. That’s why this government is working together to tackle the challenges they have told us they face, like housing, health care and employment, to make sure the right help is available.
“Young adults leaving care need firm foundations on which to build a stable home for themselves, and to help support them start their adult lives confidently so they can
fulfil their potential.” Kelly Tolhurst, Minister for Rough Sleeping and Housing
“This new guidance will directly support care
leavers to live independently and prevent them becoming homeless – building on the excellent work many councils are already doing for young people in care. Everyone has a responsibility – government, businesses, universities and local authorities alike – to support care leavers at this critical time in their life. The good practice advice document has been
produced by the Homelessness Advice and Support Team within the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), and with the Department for Education.
Rural homelessness more than doubles in past two years
Homelessness in rural parts of England has risen by 115 per cent in the last two years, with campaigners warning of further increases as a result of planning reforms reducing the number of affordable homes to be built in the countryside. The number of households categorised as
homeless in rural local authorities in England rose to 19,975 according to the countryside charity CPRE, and the Rural Services Network, which represents parish councils and many other countryside organisations. The true figures for rural homeless are likely to
be even higher as rough sleepers in the countryside should include people camping in woods or sleeping in cars and outbuildings. These people are rarely included in official counts, which are based on snapshots, focussing on rough sleepers on the streets and those in emergency hostels. The rise in homeless households has been
greatest in the north-east and north-west of England but increases have been recorded across all areas. The rates of increase in rural areas is currently greater than that occurring in towns and cities, and rural councils fear the housing shortage in the countryside could soon get even worse. Councils are forecasting a potential reduction in
The rise in homeless households has been greatest in the north-east and north-west of England but increases have been recorded across all areas
affordable house construction by up to 50 per cent if the requirement to build them switches to applying to sites with more than 40 or 50 homes rather than just 10 homes. The change is part of Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick’s proposed alterations to the planning system Crispin Truman, chief executive of CPRE, said
key workers were being priced out of rural areas by high rents in the private sector. “Tragically, rural homelessness continues to soar. Continuing to deregulate the planning system will only make this situation worse. “Instead, investing in rural social housing now would deliver a boost to the economy at a time
10 | HMM December/January 2021 |
www.housingmmonline.co.uk
when this is so desperately needed. The evidence is crystal clear that this is the best way to provide affordable homes for rural communities, especially the key workers whom communities rely on now more than ever, while at the same time jump- starting the economy.” The CPRE has calculated that at current social
housing build rates it could take more than 150 years to clear the current rural housing waiting lists. The Rural Services Network has said that changes set out in the Government’s planning white paper would be catastrophic for the delivery of rural affordable housing. It argues that more rural affordable housing
would boost the economy. It has forecast that for every 10 new affordable homes built the economy would be boosted by £1.4m, supporting 26 jobs and generating £250,000 in Government revenue. Graham Biggs, chief executive of the
network, said: “The social case for affordable rural housing provision is undeniable and is at the heart of sustainable rural communities. Now the economic case for investment in such housing is also firmly established, we call on the Government to boost affordable rural housing supply in a clear win-win situation.”
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60
