Council flats to be used to help homeless

Cannock Chase Council is working with Lichfield District Council to support rough sleepers and people in “precarious housing situations” into more long-term accommodation.

And on Thursday Cannock Chase Council’s cabinet gave the go-ahead for up to five of the authority’s flats to be used in the project if needed.

A report to the cabinet said: “Through the use of the council’s Flexible Homelessness Grant and potential Government funding through Rough Sleepers Initiative an initial two year Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Housing Pathway project is being commissioned and developed.

“(A) provider will be commissioned to procure and maintain at least five units of accommodation. It is expected that this will be from the private rented sector.

“However, due to the size and availability of private rented properties within the district, and whilst an approach will also be made to registered providers to assist in the provision of suitable accommodation, it may be necessary to make available suitable council accommodation. Given the make up of the client group i.e. single people it is suggested that up to five one-bedroom flats may be let to the provider.

“The council would receive full rental income from the provider during this time, including during any void periods. The provider would charge rent to the tenants occupying the flat and an additional intensive housing management cost to cover any support needs.”

The people set to be supported by the project “have complex issues, difficulty in sustaining a tenancy, and may have been excluded from the council’s housing waiting list”, the report added.

“A key principle of Housing First is that the property is made available in a suitable location for the client, preferably close to existing support networks, and is not dependent on engaging with or completing a support plan.

“In most supported housing models clients are moved on to a tenancy or other permanent accommodation when they have completed a support plan and are considered capable of sustaining a tenancy. The issue with ‘move on’ is that support networks may be lost and impacts on the client’s ability to sustain the tenancy.

“Under the management agreement the client will be licensee of the outreach provider. However it is envisaged that at a point in time, provided the tenant is capable of sustaining a tenancy, the management agreement may be ended and the client will become an introductory council tenant. The transition will need careful planning and it is suggested that the process to be followed is determined following a period of 12-month operation.”