Agenda item

Officer Ian Bakewell delivered the report. Cabinet Member Bob Greenland added the following comments:

The amount of work performed by the team is enormous and their commitment to homelessness is unwavering. Officer Bakewell has given Councillor Jones and me regular updates, which we have passed on to Cabinet, and he has attended informal Cabinet meetings. The situation has been worsened by the pandemic. Early on, Minister Julie James gave money, for which we are very grateful, for taking people off the streets. As infection rates grew in the spring, people who had been sofa surfing presented as homeless overnight, as they could no longer stay where they were. We anticipate big problems this autumn and winter. There are no easy answers, as the Council currently has huge draws on its limited resources. We do recognise as a priority the issues faced by this area of council work, in particular. We will do everything we can to achieve what is needed.

Officer Bakewell answered the Members’ questions, with additional comments from Lyn Webber:

Challenge:

What is the approximate cost for a pod?

They cannot be bought outright – there’s a rental charge of around £120-150 a month. They are delivered on the back of a lorry, and are fairly easy to install. We have always balked at their use, and we don’t really have anywhere suitable for them. Their use would be a last resort, as an interim measure to empty Monmouth market hall and provide accommodation until something suitable was found.

Is there anything that can be done to persuade banks and building societies to be more lenient for those hit by the pandemic now, so that they don’t become homeless?

This is an area in which we need to invest. If people come through with those circumstances, then we need to do everything we can to support them; part of that would be to engage with banks and building societies, and support the people with their potential debts. There are a few schemes to note coming out of Welsh Government, though they will be loans with a 1% interest rate. Another dimension of that is the Council’s housing support arrangements: they will work very closely with people in those circumstances as well.

Because of the new guidance that has come from Welsh Government, at the start of the pandemic the teams realigned services to support those in temporary accommodation. We have had support from Monmouthshire Housing and worked to ensure that those in temporary accommodation are supported where appropriate. Realigning the services has been stressful given the existing caseloads, but the teams have done very well. We hope to make that situation a permanent one. It is difficult because we have to comply with the terms and conditions of the Housing Support grant, in which there is a requirement on us to do preventative work, supporting domestic violence and abuse victims, older people, etc. It is a fine balancing act.

What support do you get from the Gwent Drug and Alcohol Service? Or from the Health Board? Have grants from the Police and Crime Commissioner been explored?

At the beginning of Covid, our arrangements with GDAS were probably not as they should be. We have been working closely with them around their existing provision, but that doesn’t have capacity for the number of people that we now know need support. But we have secured funding from Welsh Government until April for a dedicated GDAS worker who will focus on our B&Bs and temporary accommodation. Other authorities are having similar problems. The conversation has started about a Gwent project – the need for it is well understood.

Because of the change in Welsh Government policy, do they not want night shelters or is it that they are no longer needed?

We want to end night shelters, as they aren’t appropriate accommodation. Welsh Government is certainly against them now, though they are also against pods. They have said again today that they will not support any night shelters, as they cannot be COVID safe. However, if the situation were to ever demand the use of pods they would consider them. The policy change seems to be here to stay, with Welsh Government moving away from intentional homelessness – anyone needing accommodation will have to be provided with some. Everyone supports this but the resources need to be there.

Last winter, some local churches provided emergency accommodation – are there any agencies at this time that can offer assistance?

As a council, we cannot actively use churches, though they are able to provide accommodation independently. The Covid risk assessments that churches need to follow would not allow that going into this winter. There might need to be relaxations in the rules going forward.

How does washing clothes etc. work with pods?

There is an example in Newport in which I believe one pod is set up as a separate utility pod.

Is GDAS able to undertake tests for Hep C, for example?

GDAS is able to undertake Blood Borne Viruses (BBV) tests that would cover HepC. They are also undertaking Harm Reduction Work with clients where needed. We haven't been informed that these tests are not able to be completed during the COVID period. ABUHB sits on the Area Planning Board and their respective Commissioning Board.

Are BBV nurses able to support GDAS in their commissioned work on the frontline or have they/are they being drawn elsewhere because of COVID pressures?

MCC's GDAS Phase 2 Assertive Outreach Worker started 3 weeks ago and BBV testing is one of the first services she has offered service users.

Chair’s Summary:

Councillor Edwards wondered if static caravans might be better and more cost-effective than B&Bs or pods. She expressed concern that more homes will be repossessed due to redundancies, and noted that there is a subtle distinction between homelessness and rough sleeping – some of the latter might not want to go into permanent accommodation but would welcome the help in winter.

The Members expressed their appreciation for the team’s continuing hard work. The Committee agreed the recommendations.