Themes and Principles
In reviewing the evidence contained in the homelessness review and progress made against our previous strategy, we are confident that the priorities we agreed at that time were correct. However, we now need to update the approach to deal with the context of increases in homelessness, further reductions in public funding, and system-wide issues.
This strategy and the resulting delivery and action plan is based on the principles of the positive pathway model and broken down into 3 over-arching themes. Within each theme a number of priorities have been identified, and these will be key to transforming the experience and outcomes of those at risk of homelessness, proactively addressing inequalities and dealing with gaps in service provision. Though the causes and experiences of homelessness differ for different groups and cohorts and responses will vary on a case-by-case basis the principles of the pathway model applies to all. We have also identified a number of cross-cutting priorities that underpin both the themes and priority areas contained within each theme which will be considered and integrated into the delivery plan for the strategy.
4.1 Early intervention and prevention:
We believe that everyone in Coventry should have a place to call home, we will minimise homelessness by focusing on early prevention and intervention to help people keep their home or move in a planned way. Ensuring people access services as early as possible increases the opportunities to prevent homelessness
4.2 Crisis and targeted support:
We will provide good quality accessible advice and support to ensure people can resolve their housing problems in a way that is resilient and long lasting. Where people do find themselves homeless and in need of emergency accommodation it will be of good quality, appropriate and conducive to their health and well-being. Targeted support will be provided for individuals and households who need support and find themselves in crisis.
4.3 Move on and Tenancy sustainment:
There will be a focus on creating and increasing move on options for people and ensuring the right tools and support is in place to help people sustain tenancies once their homelessness has ended. Our focus will not just be in terms of bricks and mortar but will also consider and reflect the wider social detriments that impact someone’s ability to secure and maintain a settled home.
4.4 Rough Sleeping
Rough sleeping is the most visible form of homelessness, therefore eliminating rough sleeping will run through our 3 overarching themes and will not be seen as a stand-alone theme. Though our interventions and responses maybe different, the aspiration to prevent rough sleeping, deal with crisis and support move on and tenancy sustainment is the same.
4.5 Principles
Underpinning the identified themes are the following 4 principles which will run through and underpin the priority areas and subsequent actions that will be taken to deliver the strategy:
- Partnership
- Intelligence led
- Improving life chances and health outcomes
- Maximising opportunities
4.6 Partnership
We recognise that partnerships are the key to preventing and relieving homelessness and to supporting people who are either homeless or facing homelessness. The causes of homelessness are multiple and complex and require solutions which reflect this and therefore we will ensure:
- We continue to engage partners across our public, business, voluntary and faith sectors, recognising the importance of each to coordinate a comprehensive approach to homelessness prevention that delivers sustainable outcomes for residents.
- We work to strengthen our existing partnerships, both with other services in the Council and with external organisations, as well as building new working relationships.
- Ensure partnership working underpins what we do by ensuring we are working with our partners to pool our knowledge, skills, and resources, to improve prevention methods and provide effective support whilst addressing system wide issues that are a barrier to good outcomes.
- Through strong partnership working we will provide a strong safety net for people who do become homeless and make sure they have the support they need to move on to permanent and sustainable new homes.
- We will work across the city in transparent and shared spaces with partners to ensure plans for people and projects are designed together and the most effective they can be, saving time and money while creating long standing change in provision and frontline service for those we find rough sleeping
4.7 Intelligence-led
Our approach to tackling homelessness and rough sleeping will be intelligence-led, building on the work done through the homelessness needs assessment, with dashboards covering each of the priority areas, tracking trends and monitoring the impact of the implementation of the strategy. Focusing on the data;
- We will assess any new and emerging issues and ensure we understand how the Coventry picture compares regionally and nationally, ensuring our approach remains focussed on making a difference to our residents.
- Recognising that homelessness is not random, we will overlay this with wider factors to ensure that we have a holistic approach which enables us to direct our resources to provide support at the earliest stage possible.
- This will be supported by the experiences of people who have experienced homelessness, ensuring our approach is always shaped by their experiences and feedback around what works and what doesn’t.
4.8 Improving life chances and health outcomes
Recognising homelessness as part of a wider system of inequalities, we will seek to improve life chances and health outcomes, through our partnership approach to tackling homelessness and joining systems up. This will include;
- Raising awareness of the impact of homelessness on health and wellbeing outcomes, including how homelessness can exacerbate existing problems, issues and support needs, particularly in relation to mental health.
- Carry out specific initiatives around health and wellbeing for homeless households as well as ensuring our approach to preventing homelessness and supporting households into settled sustainable accommodation provides a basis upon which they can thrive.
- Working in partnership with all agencies and organisations responsible for health and care services when there is a risk of homelessness, or it is the presenting issue.
4.9 Maximising opportunities
Homelessness and rough sleeping services operate against a complex backdrop of legislation and policy which is ever emerging and developing
- We will ensure that where policy and legislation offer opportunities to change how we work we will embrace this whilst being bold and creative in our approach to finding solutions
- We will maximise any impact of changing legislation and policy ensuring that our services reflect changes and capitalise on the opportunities they offer including where funding is available.