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On 16 May 2023, Cabinet:-
(i) Agreed to bid for, accept and use capital funding of up to £1.2m from SHAP to support the acquisition and adaptation of 15, 1-bed properties, prioritising properties available under RTB buy back arrangements in order to provide independent self-contained accommodation for former rough sleepers with disabilities;
(ii) Delegated authority to the Interim Strategic Director for City Housing (or their delegate) in conjunction with the Strategic Director of Place, Prosperity and Sustainability (or their delegate), and the Chief Finance Officer (or their delegate) to negotiate the acquisition of up to 15 properties for social housing use where it makes financial sense;
(iii) Agreed to bid for, accept and use revenue funding of up to £600k from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) to provide ‘Housing First’ type support to the people accommodated within the properties so acquired;
(iv) Agreed to hold these 15 properties within the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) and let them as settled, general needs Council owned accommodation;
(v) Agreed to ringfence the properties for letting to people with complex needs and experience of homelessness;
(vi) Authorised the Interim Strategic Director for City Housing (or their delegate) to enter into grant agreements with DLUHC and Homes England committing the Council to purchase, adapt and use the properties as set out above, in accordance with Homes England and DLUHC grant conditions under the SHAP funding programme;
(vii) Authorised capital investment from the HRA to make up the difference between the full costs of purchasing, renovating and adapting properties to meet the physical requirements of the target client group tenants and the SHAP grant available. This route offers the best financial, legal, operational and tax option;
(viii) Authorised the Strategic Director of Adult Social Care (or their delegate) to commission ‘Housing First’ type support for the target client group tenants of this accommodation from one of the Council’s existing framework providers;
(ix) Agreed to bid for, accept and use revenue funding of up to £2.3m from DLUHC to provide ‘Housing First’ type support to extend the Council’s existing Housing First programme;
(x) Authorised the Interim Strategic Director of Adult Social Care (or their delegate) to use any revenue funds granted by DLUHC as a result of this bid to continue providing Housing First type services to those currently in the programme, and to extend the service to new individuals who are rough sleeping or at risk of rough sleeping;
(xi) Authorised the City Solicitor to negotiate, execute and complete all necessary documentation to give effect to the above recommendations.
THE DEADLINE FOR CALL IN IS 1600 HOURS ON MONDAY 22 MAY 2023.
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