The Executive Director (Communities and People) has submitted a report to seek approval for the expansion of the Housing First programme following a successful bid to the Single Homelessness Accommodation Programme.

Cabinet is recommended to:

1.      Approve the Council’s participation in the Single Homelessness Accommodation Programme (SHAP) in order to purchase 12 new units for Housing First alongside commissioning support for a total of 17 units, including 5 units drawn from general needs stock;

2.      Recommend to Council the allocation of a £2,888,000 capital budget (of which £1,688,000 will be borrowed by the Housing Revenue Account) for the Council’s investment to purchase the properties as part of the Single Homelessness Accommodation Programme as outlined in paragraph 19, the balance of which will be met by the SHAP grant;

3.      Recommend to Council a budget allocation of £600,000 to cover revenue costs to commission support providers to deliver support for the 17 units of Housing First. The funding equates to 3 years’ worth of revenue but is spread over 4 financial years (para 18); and

4.      Delegate authority to the Executive Director (Communities and People) in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Housing; the Head of Financial Services/Section 151 Officer; and the Head of Law and Governance/Monitoring Officer, to enter into agreements and contracts to facilitate the purchase by the Council of housing (to be held in the HRA) within the identified budget and within the project approval, as well as to enter into or amend agreements or contracts in relation to support provision (revenue spend) in line with procurement requirements.

The Executive Director (Communities and People) had submitted a report to seek approval for the expansion of the Housing First programme following a successful bid to the Single Homelessness Accommodation Programme.

The Leader welcomed the report, highlighting that the Housing First programme had been successful in Oxford and was a very important part of the housing offer.  There was international evidence about how successful Housing First was. The Rough Sleeping and Single Homelessness Manager highlighted that in moving towards a housing-led approach it also represented a very important step in ending rough sleeping in the city and was in line with both the Council’s Homelessness, Housing and Rough Sleeping Strategy and the Countywide Homelessness Strategy.

Cabinet resolved to:

1.      Approve the Council’s participation in the Single Homelessness Accommodation Programme (SHAP) in order to purchase 12 new units for Housing First alongside commissioning support for a total of 17 units, including 5 units drawn from general needs stock;

2.      Recommend to Council the allocation of a £2,888,000 capital budget (of which £1,688,000 will be borrowed by the Housing Revenue Account) for the Council’s investment to purchase the properties as part of the Single Homelessness Accommodation Programme as outlined in paragraph 19, the balance of which will be met by the SHAP grant;

3.      Recommend to Council a budget allocation of £600,000 to cover revenue costs to commission support providers to deliver support for the 17 units of Housing First. The funding equates to 3 years’ worth of revenue but is spread over 4 financial years (para 18); and

4.      Delegate authority to the Executive Director (Communities and People) in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Housing; the Head of Financial Services/Section 151 Officer; and the Head of Law and Governance/Monitoring Officer, to enter into agreements and contracts to facilitate the purchase by the Council of housing (to be held in the HRA) within the identified budget and within the project approval, as well as to enter into or amend agreements or contracts in relation to support provision (revenue spend) in line with procurement requirements.