Liberal Democrat Group member motion

This Council is concerned that the Government’s RSAP funding for housing the homeless may not continue. ^[1]

 At best, Government funding for house purchase in Oxford is inadequate given the high cost of housing here, which can entail residents being offered places to live in areas where housing is cheaper but they know nobody. So it is more urgent than ever to find homes for the homeless in the private rented sector, preferably close to the city centre.

The Council already does its best to place vulnerable residents in the private rented sector, but this has proved to be a difficult and time-consuming task for officers because landlords will often reject benefit claimants and are even less likely to accept those with behavioural or addiction or mental health problems.

This Council is asked to look at the success achieved by Home Turf Lettings (HTL),^[2]  a social enterprise lettings agency in Bristol. This is a not-for-profit lettings agency under the wing of a parent charity, DHI. Ongoing social support both to Landlords and to Tenants is provided by City Council care providers, by DHI and by other charities. 41% of lettings are to homeless families, 40% to Rough Sleepers and people in hostels, 16% to people who have had addiction treatment and are considered ‘ready’ to move on with their lives. HTL aims to have their tenants living near the city centre so that they can still be in contact with their street community.

Another model can be seen in Homes For Good,^[3]  a different but very successful company in Glasgow, which has recently received £2.4m lottery funding to roll out its model across the UK. This is a company limited by guarantee, it is a social lettings agency, not a social enterprise lettings agency. It is an ethical business, not a charity. It has in-house tenancy officers dedicated to Tenants’ care and so to the sustainability of placements. The lease model they seek is for years rather than months.

Homes For Good reports that, as a result of Covid, a number of PRS Landlords have been more willing to consider supported housing Tenants because (a) they — Landlords and Tenants — will be supported throughout, and (b) LHA rates are consistent so there are no failed payments/voids.

Council requests the Leader and the Chief Executive to

• Call on the Secretary of State for MHCLG to ensure continued funding under the RSA Programme through 22/23 and onwards,
• delegate an appropriate officer to explore the social lettings models in Bristol and Glasgow,
• bring a report to Cabinet with an assessment of whether it would be appropriate either to set up a social enterprise lettings agency or to support a social lettings agency in Oxford.

1.      Rough Sleeping Accommodation Programme: most of the remaining capital funding (£140.9m) is available for 21/22 “with a small amount available to deliver homes in the first half of 22/23.”

2.      https://www.hometurflettings.co.uk/

3.      https://homesforgood.org.uk/

Cllr Wade, seconded by Cllr Landell Mills, accepted the amendment put forward by Cllr Turner and proposed her revised motion with the amendment as set out in briefing note.

After debate and on being put to the vote the motion was agreed.

Council resolved to adopt the following motion:

This Council is concerned that the Government’s RSAP funding for housing the homeless may not continue. ^[1]

 At best, Government funding for house purchase in Oxford is inadequate given the high cost of housing here, which can entail residents being offered places to live in areas where housing is cheaper but they know nobody. So it is more urgent than ever to find homes for the homeless in the private rented sector, within or as close to Oxford as possible.

The Council already does its best to place vulnerable residents in the private rented sector, but this has proved to be a difficult and time-consuming task for officers because landlords will often reject benefit claimants and are even less likely to accept those with behavioural or addiction or mental health problems and in particular because Local Housing Allowance rates are inadequate in Oxford.

This Council notes the research work done by Aspire, in particular with Home Turf Lettings and Homes for Good, into the possibility of setting up a social enterprise lettings agency in Oxford.

Home Turf Lettings (HTL),^[2]  a social enterprise lettings agency in Bristol. This is a not-for-profit lettings agency under the wing of a parent charity, DHI. Ongoing social support both to Landlords and to Tenants is provided by City Council care providers, by DHI and by other charities. 41% of lettings are to homeless families, 40% to Rough Sleepers and people in hostels, 16% to people who have had addiction treatment and are considered ‘ready’ to move on with their lives. HTL aims to have their tenants living near the city centre so that they can still be in contact with their street community.

Another model can be seen in Homes For Good,^[3]  a different but very successful company in Glasgow, which has recently received £2.4m lottery funding to roll out its model across the UK. This is a company limited by guarantee, it is a social lettings agency, not a social enterprise lettings agency. It is an ethical business, not a charity. It has in-house tenancy officers dedicated to Tenants’ care and so to the sustainability of placements. The lease model they seek is for years rather than months.

Homes For Good reports that, as a result of Covid, a number of PRS Landlords have been more willing to consider supported housing Tenants because (a) they — Landlords and Tenants — will be supported throughout, and (b) LHA rates are consistent so there are no failed payments/voids.

As a result of its research, Aspire has begun a social enterprise pilot, under which four Oxford residents have already secured accommodation.

Council requests the Leader and Chief Executive to

• call on the Secretary of State for MHCLG to ensure continued funding under the RSA Programme through 22/23 and onwards.
• provide an update to Cabinet indicating the success of the Aspire pilot study at the end of its first year in July 2022.

1.      Rough Sleeping Accommodation Programme: most of the remaining capital funding (£140.9m) is available for 21/22 “with a small amount available to deliver homes in the first half of 22/23.”

2.      https://www.hometurflettings.co.uk/

3.      https://homesforgood.org.uk/