Homelessness Prevention and Rough Sleeper Strategy

Council Plan (2022-25)

The Council Plan sets out an ambitious programme to improve the lives of people in Rotherham with five key themes:

1. Every Neighbourhood thriving
2. People are safe, healthy and live well
3. Every child able to fulfil their potential
4. Expanding economic opportunity
5. A cleaner, greener Local environment

Housing Strategy (2022-25)

The Housing Strategy provides an overview of Rotherham’s housing needs and local housing market related issues. The Housing Strategy’s six key priorities for the 2022-25 period are:

High quality new homes

• Affordable homes to meet local need.
• Investment in existing homes.
• Bringing empty homes back into use.
• Supporting people to live independently.
• Strengthening communities

The Domestic Abuse Strategy (2022-2027)

• Prevention and Early Intervention.
• Justice and Ongoing Protection.
• Responding to Changing Need and Demand.
• Minimising Harm through the Provision of Early Help.
• Support for Children and Families.
• Providing Safe Accommodation and Appropriate Support.

What is Local Data Telling Us?

• April-Sept 2022 there were 538 homeless applicants/ households - Apr-Sept/2022 538 Applicants/ Households
• There has been a decrease year on year for the last three years. - 2019-2020 1814 Applications; 2020-2021 1458 Applications; 2021-2022 987 Applications

Demand for Emergency Temporary Accommodation

• Last year (2021/2022) there were 217 homeless cases closed at the prevention stage. A further 614 were closed at the relief stage. This is a combined total of 76% of homeless cases closed due to being prevented and relieved.
• The number of households living in temporary accommodation has steadily reduced over the period of April 2022 to November 2022.
• At the start of 2022, there were a total of 202 households living in hotels and council dispersed temporary accommodation, of which 96 households were residing in hotels. (80 single people and 16 families with dependent children).
• As of 24th November 2022, this had reduced to a combined total of 123, reducing households residing in hotels to 25. (23 single people and 2 families with dependent children).

Main reasons for homelessness

• Friends/family unable to accomodate - 24%
• End of private tenancy - 18%
• Relationship breakdown - 9%
• Domestic abuse - 8%

Snapshot December 2022

Length of time homeless households living in temporary accommodation:

• Over 168 days - 20%
• Over 84 days - 26%
• 56-84 days - 18%
• Less than 56 days - 36%

Complex Needs and Homelessness

Rough Sleeper Counts

• 2018/19 - 16
• 2019/20 - 10
• 2020/21 - 6
• 2021/22 - 3
• 2022/23 - 0

Move on Housing Types

• A total of 792 homeless households were rehoused between April 2020 and March 2021.
• The highest supply of housing was council housing, 457 were housed into council properties, 146 into supported housing, 76 into Housing Association properties and 113 rehoused into private rented tenancies.
• In the first 6 months of 2022-23, there has been a decline in private rented housing lettings for homeless households.

Household Composition

Economic Status

• Unemplyed or not seeking work - 77%
• Employed (Full and Part-time) - 23%