Scottish Borders Council

Agenda item

Scottish Borders Rapid Rehousing Transition Plan 2019-2024

Consider report by Service Director – Customer and Communities.  (Copy attached.)

Minutes:

SCOTTISH BORDERS RAPID REHOUSING TRANSITION PLAN 2019-2024

8.1         There had been circulated copies of a report by the Service Director- Customer and Communities which provided an update on progress with the Scottish Borders Rapid Rehousing Transition Plan 2019/2020 – 2023/2024 (RRTP) (Appendix 1), and sought endorsement of the reviewed Scottish Borders RRTP – Action Plan (Appendix 2), Integrated Impact Assessment (Appendix 3) and Funding and Activity Monitoring Return (Appendix 4) for submission to the Scottish Government.  The report explained that the Scottish Government was committed to making “radical changes to end homelessness in Scotland” and saw “Rapid Rehousing by default” as a cornerstone of this commitment.  In 2018 the Scottish Government requested that all Local Authorities submit a 5- year RRTP for the period 2019/20 – 2023/24 by the end of March 2019.  Development of the Scottish Borders RRTP was led by the Borders Homelessness and Health Strategic Partnership and included consultation with key partners including the Borders Housing Alliance and the Health and Social Care Integration Strategic Planning Group.  The Council formally approved the Scottish Borders RRTP at its meeting on 28 March 2019 and it was submitted to the Scottish Government in March 2019.  The Scottish Government had provided funding to local authorities for the development of RRTP from the ‘Ending Homelessness Together Fund’ and further detail were contained in Section 4 of the report.  The RRTP Action Plan had been reviewed and updated by the Homelessness and Health Strategic Partnership, particularly in light of the impact of the pandemic, and a Funding and Activity Monitoring Return had been prepared for submission to the Scottish Government.

 

8.2       It was highlighted that there had been significant delays to progress on the RRTP, particularly in light of the impact of the pandemic, when Borders Homelessness and Health Partnership (BHHSP) members had been on the front line of the crisis and had worked closely together throughout the pandemic to ensure that tenants, customers and those at risk of homelessness continued to receive the services and support they required.  Homelessness services were delivered by telephone wherever possible, however, given the vulnerable nature of many homeless households, face to face access and support was retained where required. Early actions in response to the pandemic were focused around ensuring homeless or potentially homeless households within the Scottish Borders had suitable accommodation available to them that allowed them to comply with the imposed lockdown measures. To achieve this homelessness services and RSLs worked in partnership to increase the availability of temporary homeless accommodation by 15 properties, and ensured homeless applicants had continued access to permanent accommodation and support.  The report further detailed the Rapid Rehousing Transition Plan Funding, the Scottish Borders Rapid Rehousing transition plan 219/2020 – 2023/2024 and financial implications.  In response to a question about the average length of tenure of homelessness accommodation, Jordan Manning advised that it had been 123 days last year and 116 days the year before.

 

DECISION

            AGREED to:-

 

(a)             note the progress made with delivery of the Scottish Borders RRTP. 

 

(b)             approve submission of the reviewed and updated Scottish Borders RRTP Action Plan, Integrated Impact Assessment, and   Funding and Activity Monitoring Return to the Scottish Government.

 

Supporting documents:

 

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