Rough Sleepers the Brent experience

Perry Singh Assistant Director of Housing Brent Council

WL Housing Lead Members 16

th

November 2010

Historic perspective

 Not a major problem.

 Street counts ranged from 1-4  Marked change around 4-5 years ago 2

Over a short period…

 Police informed of a murder of a Polish rough sleeper  Church groups contacted us about supporting a large number of alcohol dependent rough sleepers  Two significant Brent sites identified – Alperton and Neasden  More recently major fire of a derelict office block – large number of squatters

Characteristics

   Mainly: – Failed Asylum Seekers – A10 nationals – Or otherwise no recourse Often: – Alcohol dependent – Health problems – physical or mental – Over-represented in criminal justice system  As perpetrators and victims Sometimes – recourse, but client lacks basic capacity to act – ‘Lifestyle ‘choice

Mr K is happy to be here. ‘I have no job so I move around. Last week I got some work in construction. I got paid £100 for two days’ work, but now I have nothing,’ he says, shrugging his shoulders. He wants to stay and wants no help in return. ‘This is a special place, there’s no food and no energy, but I’m a hard man,’ he chuckles. ‘Capitalism isn’t for me. I have what I need… I don’t need comforts. If we get cold, we just light a fire.’ Inside Housing

Formulate the strategy

 Set-up strategic group: – Borough Commander Fire service – Chief Inspector Police – AD Housing – Senior Health Service Manager – Planning enforcement – Environmental Health Manager – Head of Outreach Service – Thames Reach (later on)

Focus

 Action plan developed and delivered through Operational Group  Formal reporting route to CDRP  Agree approach Corporately – In particular agreement to enforcement, as well as assistance  Partnership approach to closing down RS sites  Get funding and procure re-connections service  Access to drying out beds

Outcomes

 2 rough sleeper sites closed.

 More than 180 RS re-connected across sub-region  Dealt with ‘flow’ of 90 RS a year  Hardcore of 3 rough sleepers – Consulting with UKBA

Impact of HB Changes!

Change

Imposition of Caps Removal of £15 excess * Non-Dependents Deduction 30th Percentile Age for single room rent to 25 - 35 TOTAL

When will it impact

Apr 2011 - Mar 2012 Apr 2011 Apr 2011 Oct 2011 - Sept 2012 Apr 2012

No of Households

1,988 2,900 5,749 6,270 1,266 18,173 * Impact on non-LHA claimants as well, e.g. Council Tenants, therefore possible impact on rent roll.

HB Loss

£ 8,817,844 £ 1,750,788 £ 544,424 £ 7,266,755 £ 7,238,862 25,618,673

Housing Benefit Loss by Borough (projection)

Enfield Barnet Harrow Haringey Waltham Forest Redbridge Hillingdon Hounslow Ealing Brent Camden an Ha d F m u m lh er a m an s m Ken d Ch ith City of Westminster sin els gto ea n Islington Hackney Tower Hamlets City of London Southwark Wandsworth Lambeth Lewisham Newham Greenwich Richmond Upon Thames Merton Kingston Upon Thames Bromley £250,000+ per week shortfall £100,000-£249,999 per week shortfall £50,000-£99,999 per week shortfall £25,000-£49,999 per week shortfall 10,000-£24,999 per week shortfall £1,000-£9,999 per week shortfall £0-£999 per week shortfall Sutton Croydon Barking & Dagenham Bexley Havering