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Search forConcerns over new homelessness bands
Thursday, November 20, 2008, 07:00
People who face being made homeless but still have a roof over their heads were moved down from the "urgent need" category to "high need" by a decision made at the end of last month.
The decision modified a new banding system brought in by the council in April this year. But councillors on the Scrutiny Commission on Tuesday told Cabinet member Peter Brookshaw and his housing officers to go back and do a more thorough job.
Tim Phillips, a housing service manager, admitted to the panel that consultation on the change had not begun until November 10 – ten days after the decision.
Susan McDonald, Labour councillor for St Peter and the Waterfront, said the consultation had not reached the groups representing homeless young people.
She said the council had not approached groups like the Ship Hostel for the homeless, the Shekinah Mission or the Citizens' Advice Bureau.
Clive Milone, assistant director of housing operations, said the homeless charity Shelter had approached the council and asked for the change.
"It was our view that this wasn't a major change," Mr Milone said.
Mr Brookshaw defended moving this group of people to a less urgent category, saying: "None of them is on the street."
Labour group leader Tudor Evans said: "Peter Brookshaw is still in denial. This reason this decision was called in was because he didn't consult beforehand.
"Officers confirmed that they consulted after the event. They have attempted to rectify the situation. This is a fundamental change to the banding system.
"I admit your intentions are sound, but whether that will have the effect in practice we'll have to see."
David James, the Conservative councillor for Plympton St Mary, said: "It seems that you preempted the consultation, though luckily for you those that have come back have been in favour."
Joan Watkins (Con, Stoke) said: "I just hope that lessons are learned."
The reason given for the change was to allow the council to help a greater number of people facing homelessness. The change would bring the council into line with Devon County Council.
The council said that the decision to place homelessness prevention cases in the most urgent need category was originally made to give them enough priority to be rehoused quickly.
"However, this band is primarily intended to tackle only the highest level of housing need, such as emergencies.
"The inclusion of a fairly large number of homelessness prevention cases has skewed this and adversely affected the time that those with the most pressing needs can be rehoused in."
Steve Webster, a case officer with Shelter, said there had been no noticeable increase in the number of homeless people this year. However, he added: "There has definitely been an increase in the number of mortgage repossessions."
Across Devon there were 40 per cent more court applications for repossessions.
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