Agenda Reports Pack (Public) 15/10/2012, 19.00 - Meetings ...

Government’s Homelessness Order.Page 503DisabilityGenderreassignmentMarriage andCivilPartnershipThe Homelessness Strategy identifies the importance of meeting housing needsof the disabled in line with the reasonable preference eligibility and qualifyingcriteria set out in both the Strategy itself and the Housing Allocation Scheme.The numbers of homelessness applicants approaching the Council on the basisof disability is statistically small and are therefore not monitored in a way thatother cohorts of need are. This does not preclude applicants placing themselvesin other cohorts of need, e.g., ‘ex-institution of care’. The Council will need tomonitor more closely this cohort of need (with relevant subsets to ensure thereis appropriate demarcation of needs such as physical disabilities from learningdisabilities).The Homelessness Strategy is not expected to have impacts on people whohave transitioned or are transitioning.The Homelessness Strategy evidence base indicates that 12 homelessnesscases (out of a total of 132) which involved violence related relationshipbreakdown were accepted during Apr 2011 – Dec 2011. This is proportionatelymore to the 20 cases accepted during 2010/11 (out of a total of 164acceptances). It can be concluded that the council’s homelessness approachwill need to continue to make a meaningful contribution to meeting housingneeds arising from domestic violence. The Homelessness Strategy and theHousing Allocation Scheme are clear in their support for victims of domesticviolence, but such support will not automatically lead to an allocation ofaffordable rented housing.Pregnancy The Draft Homelessness Strategy evidence base indicates that homelessnessand maternity acceptances from female lone parents totalled 63 out of a total of 132 during Apr2011 – Dec 2011. This compares with 70 out of 164 in 2010/11. This is aconsiderable proportion of total acceptances. Other evidence indicates that thelarge majority of homelessness acceptances during Apr 2011-Dec 2011 arefrom the 16-24 (38 acceptances) and 25-44 (65 acceptances) age groups,indicating that acceptance are from the younger age group cohorts with 31acceptances to the remaining older groups.Race The Homelessness Strategy evidence base has indicated that the majority ofhomeless acceptances since 2003/04 have been from ethnic minority groups.During April 2011-Dec 2011, the number from white groups totalled 51 with theTool and Guidance updated for new PSED from 05.04.2011H +LNeutralM +H +H +