What is Included?

One of 12 ‘stretch targets’ within the safer and stronger communities block in the old LAA is to:

• Reduce homeless acceptances over the next 3 years

The baseline in 2005/06 was 583 acceptances. In 2006/07 this was reduced to 314. The three year targets were then set as 284 for 2007/08 (year 1), 267 for 2008/09 (year 2) and 251 for 2009/10 (year 3)

Important Actions

Although there was high demand from different policy areas to be included in the 12 stretch targets, Solihull managed to get homelessness included by:

• Getting involved in the development of the community strategy so that it would include housing specific targets
• Extensive consultation on the Council’s Homelessness Strategy & homelessness prevention agenda, including events attended by all key voluntary sector organisations, giving homelessness a high profile in the locality
• Delivering 6-monthly reports on homelessness to the Cabinet Member, to ensure political support.

Solihull were fortunate to have the chief executive of Solihull Community Housing (ALMO) on the Local Strategic Partnership (LSP) Executive Group. Homelessness also had a strong case due to a concern that homelessness acceptances would rise due to a large-scale 15 year regeneration programme that is being undertaken.

Finally, past performance was key to the inclusion of this target- reduction of homelessness acceptances had been a key deliverable within the Council’s Plan in 2006/07.

Lessons Learnt

• Find out who is in charge of the development of your LAA and its time-scales
• Ensure inclusion of homelessness and related issues in your Council’s Sustainable Communities Strategy by linking the work of your organisation or team to key policy areas
• Keep key Councillors up-to-date on tackling and preventing homelessness in your Borough
• Find a ‘champion’ in the Executive Group of your LSP. Make clear links between your work and related targets within the 198 indicators, for example: domestic violence, ex-offenders and affordable homes
• Bear in mind that LSP’s can choose local indicators outside of the 198, but endeavour to include Supporting People indicator(s) in the 35
• If your area is producing a new homelessness strategy make clear links between your work and the LAA to the LSP Forum
• Shout loud, as others will be!

For more information please contact Jim Crawshaw, Housing Strategy Officer, Community & Economic Regeneration, Solihull MBC: jcrawshaw@solihull.gov.uk