Homeless applications, and temporary accommodation stats and costs
Case reference FOI2024/01473
Received 3 September 2024
Published 27 September 2024
Request
Re: Freedom of Information Request - Homeless Applications & Interim Accommodation I am writing to request information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 regarding the council’s expenditure on interim temporary accommodation and related costs, as well as the measures being taken to reduce such expenditures.
Please provide the following information: 1. Homeless Applications and Interim Accommodation:
- Over the past twelve months, how many people have made a homeless application to the Council?
- Over the past twelve months, how many people have been provided with interim accommodation pursuant to Section 188(1) of the Housing Act 1996?
- Over the past twelve months, how many people have been provided with interim accommodation pursuant to Section 189(b) of the Housing Act 1996?
- Over the past twelve months, what was the total cost of providing interim accommodation?
a) What proportion of this cost was paid to Travelodge and/or any of its parent companies/subsidiaries?
b) What was the total amount paid to Travelodge and/or its related entities over the past twelve months?
2. Temporary Accommodation Expenditure and Associated Costs:
- What has been the total expenditure on interim temporary accommodation (e.g., Travelodge, B&Bs) for homeless individuals over the past three financial years?
- Please provide a breakdown of these costs by location, including the number of placements made outside the borough.
- What has been the total expenditure on affiliated costs such as storage, taxis, and other related services for individuals placed in temporary accommodation outside the borough over the past three financial years?
- Please provide details of these costs by category (e.g., storage, transportation, etc.) and location.
3. Protection of Personal Property for Homeless Applicants:
- Over the past twelve months, how many homeless applicants have had their personal property protected by the local authority?
- What is the average length of time that a homeless applicant’s personal property is stored by the local authority?
- What is the average cost of storing a homeless applicant’s personal property while they are in interim accommodation?
- Under what circumstances does the local authority protect the personal property of homeless applicants?
- As part of the homeless application process, does the local authority expressly ask the homeless applicant whether they need their personal property protected?
- If not, please state the reasons why this question is not asked.
- Please provide copies of the local authority’s policies regarding homeless applications.
- Please provide a copy of the local authority’s policy regarding the protection of the personal property of homeless applicants.
- Please disclose a copy of the council's homeless procedures manual or policy document followed by housing solutions officers at its homeless service centres/homeless persons offices.
- Over the past three years, how many complaints have been made by homeless applicants regarding the council’s failure to protect their personal property?
4. Proactive Measures to Reduce Temporary Accommodation Costs:
- What specific measures has the council taken to reduce the reliance on temporary accommodation outside the borough, such as Travelodge and B&Bs?
- Has the council developed or initiated any programs to increase the availability of local temporary accommodation, particularly through the use of empty properties or land within the borough? If so, please provide details.
5. Utilisation of Empty Properties and Land:
- How many empty properties and parcels of land are currently owned by the council that could potentially be used for temporary accommodation?
- Has the council considered or initiated any compulsory purchase orders (CPOs) to acquire vacant properties for conversion into temporary accommodation? If so, please provide details, including the number of properties targeted, the outcome, and associated costs.
- What steps has the council taken to encourage community/ non-profit groups or social enterprises to make use of disused land or buildings via adverse possession for temporary accommodation or support services? Please provide examples, if any.
6. Comparative Models and Best Practices:
- Is the council aware of successful models such as Calderwood House in Cumbria, where an empty property (a former police station) was transformed into temporary accommodation and support services? If so, has the council explored similar initiatives within the borough? Please provide details of any discussions, plans, or actions taken.
- Has the council considered offering similar arrangements, such as a peppercorn rent, to community groups or social enterprises willing to re-purpose empty properties for temporary accommodation or support services? If not, what are the reasons for not pursuing this option?
7. Support Services for Individuals in Temporary Accommodation:
- What support services does the council currently provide for individuals placed in temporary accommodation outside the borough, particularly in terms of maintaining their connection to local support networks, healthcare providers, and other essential services?
- Are there any programs in place to assist individuals in transitioning from temporary accommodation outside the borough to permanent housing within the borough? If so, please provide details on the nature of the support provided, outcomes, and costs.
8. Monitoring, Evaluation, and Complaints:
- How does the council monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of its temporary accommodation placements, particularly those made outside the borough? Please provide any available data on the impact of these placements on residents, including any assessments of detriment or distress caused.
- Has the council conducted any cost-benefit analysis comparing the current expenditure on temporary accommodation outside the borough with potential savings from investing in local solutions (e.g., re-purposing empty properties)? If so, please provide the findings.
Response
1. Homeless Applications and Interim Accommodation: - Over the past twelve months, how many people have made a homeless application to the Council?
Between 04/09/2023 and 03/09/2024 there have been 1396 households have made an application to Herefordshire Council seeking housing assistance stating that they are homeless or threatened with homelessness - Over the past twelve months, how many people have been provided with interim accommodation pursuant to Section 188(1) of the Housing Act 1996?
Between 04/09/2023 and 03/09/2024 Herefordshire Council provided 276 households with accommodation under S188 of the Housing Act 1996. - Over the past twelve months, how many people have been provided with interim accommodation pursuant to Section 189(b) of the Housing Act 1996?
Between 04/09/2023 and 03/09/2024 Herefordshire Council accommodated 7 households under S189(b) of the Housing Act 1996. These were households whose accommodation under S188 came to an end during the Relief Duty period. - Over the past twelve months, what was the total cost of providing interim accommodation?
Between 04/09/2023 and 03/09/2024 the total cost of providing interim accommodation under S188 and S198(b) was £1,223,624.70
a) What proportion of this cost was paid to Travelodge and/or any of its parent companies/subsidiaries?
31.36% b) What was the total amount paid to Travelodge and/or its related entities over the past twelve months? £383,745.09
2. Temporary Accommodation Expenditure and Associated Costs:
- What has been the total expenditure on interim temporary accommodation (e.g., Travelodge, B&Bs) for homeless individuals over the past three financial years?
Over the past 3 financial years the total cost of providing interim accommodation under S188 and S198(b) was £2,589,413.31.
- Please provide a breakdown of these costs by location, including the number of placements made outside the borough.
We do not have figures for the numbers of placements made outside the county over the last three years. We are of the opinion that the cost of out of county placements over the last 3 years is between 15 and 20% of the total stated in the response above.
- What has been the total expenditure on affiliated costs such as storage, taxis, and other related services for individuals placed in temporary accommodation outside the borough over the past three financial years?
Over the last three financial years the combined costs of the above was £8432.91. - Please provide details of these costs by category (e.g., storage, transportation, etc.) and location.
Storage was £5460.12
Transport including taxis was £2972.19 3. Protection of Personal Property for Homeless Applicants: - Over the past twelve months, how many homeless applicants have had their personal property protected by the local authority?
Between 04/09/2023 and 03/09/2024 Herefordshire Council has stored the belongings of 24 households as part of a duty under Part VII of the Housing Act 1996. - What is the average length of time that a homeless applicant’s personal property is stored by the local authority?
Over the past 12 months the average length of time the Council has stored belongings for applicants owed an accommodation duty (under S188, S189b, S190, S193) is 6 months. - What is the average cost of storing a homeless applicant’s personal property while they are in interim accommodation?
No records are kept that would enable us to provide the average cost of storing personal property where an interim accommodation duty is owed. We can advise that the average cost of storage under any of the accommodation duties (S188, S189b, S190, S193) per annum is £45.50 per household. The reason for the low cost is the majority of storage space used has no financial cost to the local authority. - Under what circumstances does the local authority protect the personal property of homeless applicants?
Herefordshire Council will arrange storage where the criteria of S211 of the Housing Act 1996 are met. - As part of the homeless application process, does the local authority expressly ask the homeless applicant whether they need their personal property protected?
No - If not, please state the reasons why this question is not asked.
The Council will expect the applicant to make storage arrangements. Where the applicant is unable to make storage arrangements, meets the criteria set out in S211 of the Housing Act 1996 and requests assistance the Council carry out the duty. - Please provide copies of the local authority’s policies regarding homeless applications.
Please see S211 of the Housing Act 1996. - Please provide a copy of the local authority’s policy regarding the protection of the personal property of homeless applicants.
Please see S211 of the Housing Act 1996 - Please disclose a copy of the council's homeless procedures manual or policy document followed by housing solutions officers at its homeless service centres/homeless persons offices.
Part VII of the Housing Act 1996 and the Homelessness Code of Guidance for Local Authorities (2018) sets out the procedures and criteria followed by Herefordshire Council with regard to homeless procedures. - Over the past three years, how many complaints have been made by homeless applicants regarding the council’s failure to protect their personal property?
There have been two recorded complaints about failure to protect personal property. 4. Proactive Measures to Reduce Temporary Accommodation Costs: - What specific measures has the council taken to reduce the reliance on temporary accommodation outside the borough, such as Travelodge and B&Bs?
The local authority are actively working with a number of local B&B providers/ hotels to provide more sustainable accommodation than would be provided within a Travelodge and are based within county.
- Has the council developed or initiated any programs to increase the availability of local temporary accommodation, particularly through the use of empty properties or land within the borough? If so, please provide details.
The local authority have secured additional temporary accommodation by utilising an empty hotel, acquiring properties from the open market and through the conversion of empty office space owned by the local authority.
5. Utilisation of Empty Properties and Land: - How many empty properties and parcels of land are currently owned by the council that could potentially be used for temporary accommodation?
We have 1 building and 3 parcels of land that could potentially be used for temporary accommodation. - Has the council considered or initiated any compulsory purchase orders (CPOs) to acquire vacant properties for conversion into temporary accommodation? If so, please provide details, including the number of properties targeted, the outcome, and associated costs.
Discussions are taking place within the local authority around the use of CPO to purchase vacant properties. This is a long process that can take years, so is not a short term solution to current demand. - What steps has the council taken to encourage community/ non-profit groups or social enterprises to make use of disused land or buildings via adverse possession for temporary accommodation or support services? Please provide examples, if any.
The empty property officer offers advice and assistance, there is a published empty property strategy and all information around empty properties is available on the council website. Actively working with community land trusts. 6. Comparative Models and Best Practices: - Is the council aware of successful models such as Calderwood House in Cumbria, where an empty property (a former police station) was transformed into temporary accommodation and support services? If so, has the council explored similar initiatives within the borough? Please provide details of any discussions, plans, or actions taken.
The local authority has refurbished 2 Council owned properties for use as temporary accommodation. Two additional properties have been sourced; one is an existing empty Council asset that is surplus to requirements and one is being purchased. On planning approval both properties will be completely refurbished to provide additional temporary accommodation.
- Has the council considered offering similar arrangements, such as a peppercorn rent, to community groups or social enterprises willing to re-purpose empty properties for temporary accommodation or support services? If not, what are the reasons for not pursuing this option?
A grant is available to private landlords to bring their properties up to a habitable standard. In exchange, a charge is registered against the property for a 6 year period, the property is used as temporary accommodation and the landlord receives a peppercorn rent during this period.
7. Support Services for Individuals in Temporary Accommodation: - What support services does the council currently provide for individuals placed in temporary accommodation outside the borough, particularly in terms of maintaining their connection to local support networks, healthcare providers, and other essential services?
At present the council does not provide support services to those applicants placed in temporary accommodation under S188 or S189b outside of the county. Social services support and the support provided by commissioned floating support agencies is currently only within the county. The aim of the council is to bring applicants back in county as soon as possible so additional support can be offered.
- Are there any programs in place to assist individuals in transitioning from temporary accommodation outside the borough to permanent housing within the borough? If so, please provide details on the nature of the support provided, outcomes, and costs.
At present the council does not provide such transition services. It remains the aim of the council to only place applicants in temporary accommodation outside of the county when there is no other alternative and to bring the household back in county at the first available opportunity. Floating support services can be accessed in county to assist applicants with the transition into permanent accommodation. 8. Monitoring, Evaluation, and Complaints: - How does the council monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of its temporary accommodation placements, particularly those made outside the borough? Please provide any available data on the impact of these placements on residents, including any assessments of detriment or distress caused.
The council does not currently collect data on the effectiveness of accommodation placements whether in or outside the county. The council continues to seek to ensure that accommodation offered meets the relevant criteria and guidance set out in the applicable legislation and guidance. Where complaints and legal challenges against the suitability of accommodation are raised the council investigates them in line with legislation and council policy. Findings are incorporated in future policy. - Has the council conducted any cost-benefit analysis comparing the current expenditure on temporary accommodation outside the borough with potential savings from investing in local solutions (e.g., re-purposing empty properties)? If so, please provide the findings.
The council monitors the cost of all temporary accommodation, both in and outside the county to seek to reduce costs where possible. Work continues into developing more secure and lower cost suitable temporary accommodation within the county however at present there are no figures available with regard to potential savings
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