Draft homelessness and rough sleeping plan consultation

We face a growing housing and homelessness crisis, with record numbers in temporary accommodation and rising rough sleeping in London. Factors such as increased no-fault evictions, the cost of living crisis, and insufficient Local Housing Allowance are driving more homelessness applications, while councils struggle to find suitable accommodation. This has led to costly measures like prolonged Bed & Breakfast stays and placements further away from Southwark as it has become harder to find suitable accommodation for our residents.

 Southwark’s existing Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy has been in place since 2018 and set out for a period of 5 years to provide effective homelessness and rough sleeping services that has been reviewed since and can be found here. This strategy led to a huge expansion in support for rough sleepers, improved the support available for residents renting privately and strengthened crucial links to statutory and voluntary partners working with a shared aim to address housing insecurity. The Homelessness Act 2002 places a duty on our Council to review the factors and effectiveness of work being done around homelessness every five years and develop a homelessness strategy based on the findings of that review.

Since our last strategy we’ve seen huge changes across the Country, London and Southwark that have impacted our residents and services available. From the UK’s departure from the European Union, the global Covid-19 pandemic and inflationary pressures that have resulted from global insecurity, a pre-existing housing crisis has been worsened as a result and needs in the Borough have changed significantly. During the course of 2023, we have spoken to a wide range of stakeholders to help develop a draft aim objectives and set of priorities to frame our activities to meet existing and emerging needs.

Our draft Homelessness Strategy aims to end homelessness as set out in our overarching goal, “to work to end homelessness through the delivery of timely, effective and collaborative support which enables Southwark residents to address their housing insecurity”.

From this, the Strategy outlines three key objectives: being data-driven, providing effective advice and support, and focusing on outcomes.

The five priorities in our draft Strategy are:

·        1.  Prioritise Homelessness Prevention – Using a data-led and joined up approach to prevent homelessness and sustain existing accommodation arrangements where possible. 

·        2.   Deliver High Quality Advice & Support – Ensuring high quality, tailored, trauma-informed, effective advice and support is delivered promptly to address the diverse needs of our residents. 

·        3.   Work to End Rough Sleeping – Expanding Southwark’s off the street provision for rough sleepers and those with complex needs, prioritising Housing First, and working with partners to address the causes of rough sleeping.  

·        4.   Quality Outcomes Through Housing Provision – Making best use of accommodation available that meet the needs of our residents, supports their health and wellbeing, and continue to drive up standards.

·        5.   Tackling Systemic Housing Insecurity - Working with partners to address the wider determinants of housing insecurity including through advocacy, and empowering residents to make informed decisions in resolving their housing issues.

The work we are setting out involves all parts of our Borough and to help develop a final Strategy; we need to hear and learn further from our residents and communities in order to make it as impactful and effective as possible. Our Strategy will serve to support the delivery of Southwark Council’s vision, echo our values and strive to help shape Southwark towards the ambitions of Southwark 2030.