Public reports pack PDF 3 MB - Blaby District Council

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• Case study evidence provided by Housing Options, attached at appendix 3, suggests information was not being shared and
dispute resolution mechanisms were not being used i.e. not providing outcomes of assessment or level of support being
received by a young person.
As this review has progressed a more pro-active approach has been pursued between the Housing Options Team and
Leicestershire Social Services Children & Young People team at Bassett Street, Wigston. Feedback received by the working group
from both County and Housing Options confirms improved communication and better understanding of roles.
The National Picture
Nationally, there has been a 16% increase from 2010 to 2011 (9590 in 2010 to 11360 in 2011) and in the last 12 years emergency
bed & breakfast accommodation need has increased 44%. In the last financial year 50290 households were accepted as
homeless. Nationally this is a 14% increase on 2010/11 and a 26% rise since 2009/10. Source: CRISIS
In August 2012 the DCLG published a homelessness plan for England, part of its Making every contact count: A joint approach to
preventing homelessness report. This report highlights:
• Prevention: as the key to making every contact count with 34% of homelessness cases due to eviction by relatives or friends
• Family breakdown: is critical to address, with 18 % of all acceptances in taking part in a homelessness survey mentioning
parental separation or divorce as the a ‘trigger’ for their situation
• Wider housing reforms: with 19% of homelessness cases due to the household being unable to find alternative
accommodation when a tenancy ends, flexibilities under the Localism Act and initiatives within the Housing Strategy for
England are also cited as important factors in reducing homelessness.
• Local innovation, integration and collaboration: the Government wants to see better local leadership and new local authority
led multiagency partnerships to prevent homelessness; integration of existing local services; and new funding mechanisms.
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