(i)         that the Council supports introduction of the full housing first proposal including, a fully dispersed accommodation model and relocation of the hostel service, subject to:

·         Multi agency support;

·         Securing funding from central government and/or external sources, in addition to earmarked Adult Social Care (ASC) reserves; and

·         Due diligence on financial modelling.

This option to include a business case to relocate services from Leonard Stocks and move to a dispersed accommodation model.

(ii)        that in the case that funding cannot be secured, option 2 (set out in the exempt report submitted to the Housing Committee on 25 June 2018) would be progressed which includes:

·         Preparing a business case for a social lettings agency; and

·         Implementing a team to support people with the most complex lives integrated with other social care pathways. This additional resource, subject to business case approval, to be resourced from earmarked ASC reserves.

In response to increasing numbers of vulnerable people in Torbay with complex health and social care needs and the need to find a sustainable solution for those complex mental health and other issues by stabilising accommodation in the first instance.

Three options were considered:

The Council’s Senior Leadership Team (SLT) and the Executive Lead for Housing and Executive Lead for Adults Services and Children recommended to the Elected Mayor that option 3 be adopted and that in the case that funding cannot be secured that option 2 is approved. 

This decision will come into force immediately.

The report into feasibility of adopting Housing First in Torbay (commissioned by Nationwide Foundation from Crisis) was considered and supported by the Mayor’s Executive Group and the Housing Committee. This report evidences success of Housing First in eradicating rough sleeping elsewhere and preventing vulnerable people escalating into acute need for services.

The report and Crisis’ recommendations are informed by engagement with a range of stakeholders and homeless people, as well as the review of current homelessness systems and pathways in Torbay. Central Government funding of £28m has been allocated to Manchester, Birmingham and Liverpool to implement Housing First. There is likely to be further funding available to test the approach in smaller authorities, including coastal areas, as part of wider support for these areas which would contribute to Torbay’s ambitions. There have also been further positive exploratory discussions with other potential funders.

Housing First will run alongside a more robust partnership approach to anti-social street activity in Torquay. In this way making best use of the Authority’s tools and powers together:

·         to support people to access and maintain housing, access mental and physical health and social care support where appropriate, engage in employment and training and participate fully in their local community;

·         prevent health and social care needs of vulnerable rough sleepers and homeless people escalating through targeted early intervention and homeless prevention support; and

·         To address anti-social street activity in Torquay town centre, including use of enforcement action, to support regeneration and prosperity of the area.

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