Priority 3: Preventing homelessness and supporting our residents to live independently
Our aims:
We will end rough sleeping in Rotherham and work to prevent our residents from becoming homeless.
We will work with partners to help our most vulnerable residents live independently.
We will provide a range of housing to suit the needs of individual households.
Key performance indicators:
An increase in the proportion of households approaching us for help who are prevented or relieved from homelessness, rather than requiring longer term support.
Further reductions in the use of hotels as emergency accommodation.
An increase in the number of affordable homes built in Rotherham that meet a specialist need.
More residents able to benefit from adaptations to their homes, within smaller waiting times.
Over the next five years, we will:
Further strengthen our focus on homelessness prevention through an updated Homelessness Prevention and Rough Sleeper Strategy. We will step up support for those facing homelessness; we will ensure financial support is made available including issuing discretionary housing payments; and we will work more closely with families and landlords to keep people in their homes for longer.
Increase the provision of suitable temporary and move-on accommodation. We will improve the quality and service standards of temporary accommodation and deliver further reductions in the usage of emergency hotel accommodation. And we will work with private landlords and housing associations to improve the range of permanent accommodation available.
Improve our understanding of the diverse needs of our tenants, including vulnerabilities, so we can get better at early intervention and tailoring our services.
Continue to build and acquire a range of house types, to meet the needs of older residents, residents with disabilities, vulnerable adults and families, looked after children and care leavers to rent from the council or housing associations. This will be informed by developing our understanding of different housing needs e.g. armed forces, learning disability and autism, physical disability, mental health, and gypsies and travellers.
Fully implement our new approach to aids and adaptations, including stepping up the use of discretionary grants, with an aim to reduce the average length of time waiting for major adaptations.
Change how our social housing allocations policy works, so we are making better use of our limited council housing stock, meeting housing need, and supporting successful and balanced communities.
Indicators:
Updated Homelessness and Rough Sleeper Strategy
No. of homelessness cases received, prevented or relieved
Discretionary housing payments issued
No. of hotels / temporary accommodation properties accessed
No. of homes built or acquired which meet specific needs
