Centre for Urban & Regional Studies

WEST MIDLANDS REGIONAL HOMELESSNESS STRATEGY

Commissioned to inform the Regional Housing Strategy 2005

JANUARY 2005

Da s Centre for Urban & Regional Studies

School of Public Policy University of Birmingham

vid Mullins & Rob Rowland

West Midlands Regional Homelessness Strategy

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West Midlands Regional Homelessness Strategy

Acknowledgements This strategy has been written by David Mullins and Rob Rowlands of the Centre for Urban and Regional Studies (CURS), University of Birmingham. Additional research was undertaken by Harris Beider, Lisa Goodson and Sian Sankey of CURS. The mapping featured in the report was provided by Andrew Tice at CURS. The project was commissioned by the Voluntary and Community Sector Housing Network on behalf of the Regional Housing Board and managed by a multi-agency steering group chaired by Jean Templeton, St Basils. Other members of the steering group were Dave Brown (Bethany Trust), Jim Crawshaw (Solihull Council), Chris Downes (National Housing Federation), Pat Main (South Staffordshire District Council), Cheryl Phillips (Business in the Community), Frances Rodgers (Birmingham City Council), Alan Saunders (Malvern Hills Rural Community Council) and Yvonne Tucker (Housing Corporation). We are grateful to members of the steering group for the active role they have played throughout the project. Assistance with recruiting focus groups was provided by Janet Baker (Department of Health), Raj Schroff (Focus Futures), Julian Garside (Shelter) and Peter Johnson (Government Office for West Midlands). Further consultation opportunities were provided by conferences organised by the Voluntary & Community sector Housing Network, the Rural Housing Network and Secta Starfish for the Supporting People Strategy. Data was provided by the Housing Corporation, ODPM Homelessness and Supported Housing Directorate, Government Office for the West Midlands and by individual local authorities (who provided local homelessness strategies and completed a questionnaire survey of the experience of implementing these strategies). Independent validation was provided by Dr Bob Smith, Director of the Regeneration Institute at Cardiff University. Particular thanks are due to over 400 individuals who attended consultation events and 20 who submitted formal responses to the interim report. Funding for the Voluntary & Community Housing Sector Network to commission the strategy was provided by the Regional Housing Board. Thanks are due to Solihull Council for managing the contract on behalf of the Network. David Mullins and Rob Rowlands January 2005 Centre for Urban & Regional Studies University of Birmingham Edgbaston Birmingham B15 2TT January 2005

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West Midlands Regional Homelessness Strategy

REGIONAL HOMELESSNESS STRATEGY JANUARY 2005 CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 6 1. Introduction 14

1.1 Vision 14 1.2 Purpose 14 1.3 Aims of the Strategy 15

2. Scoping the Strategy 20 2.1 Why we need a Regional Homelessness Strategy 20 2.2 Some of the problems the strategy should address 21 2.3 Hopes and Expectations of the Strategy 21 2.4 How the Strategy will be used 22 2.5 What approach should the strategy take? 23 2.6 Some Challenges 24 2.7 Connection with other Regional Strategies 26

3. Homelessness Needs & Risks 28 3.1 Sources of Data 28 3.2 Homelessness Needs 28 3.3 Supply of Accommodation 56 3.4 Conclusions 71

4. Reviewing Local Strategies - Towards A Joined Up Approach 73 4.1 Local Authority Strategies and Progress 73 4.2 Birmingham and The Black Country 74 4.3 West Mercia 77 4.4 Stoke And Staffordshire 83 4.5 Coventry, Solihull And Warwickshire 87 4.6 Conclusions 91

5. Resources 93 5.1 Introduction 93 5.2 Local Authority Survey Responses on Resources 93 5.3 Local Authority Homelessness Costs 96 5.4 ODPM Homelessness Grants 2002/3, 2003/4 101 5.5 Housing Corporation Funding For Supported Housing 103 5.6 Supporting People 109 5.7 Rough Sleepers Initiative 113 5.8 Other Funding Sources 113 5.9 Conclusion 118

6. Recommendations 120 6.1 Resources 120 6.2 Implementation 122 6.3 Developing the Evidence Base 123

Appendix A Resource Allocation Methodology 125 Appendix B - Consultation Responses 136

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West Midlands Regional Homelessness Strategy

List of Figures Fig 3.1 Homelessness Applications in West Midlands (Source: P1E) .................................... 28 Fig 3.2 Homelessness Applications in West Midlands (Absolute figures)............................... 30 Fig 3.3 Homelessness Applications in West Midlands (weighted figures) .............................. 30 Fig 3.5 Households Accepted as Eligible, Unintentionally Homeless and in Priority Need (Absolute figures)..................................................................................................................... 31 Fig 3.6 Households Accepted as Eligible, Unintentionally Homeless and in Priority Need (weighted figures) .................................................................................................................... 31 Fig. 3.7 Priority Need Households as a percentage of all applications ................................... 33 Fig 3.8 Percentage change in priority need acceptances 1998/99 to 2002/03 (Source: HIP) 33 Fig 3.9 Repeat Homelessness 2002-03 (Source: HIP) ........................................................... 34 Fig 3.10 Priority need groups as a percentage of all households eligible, unintentionally homeless and in priority need (West Midlands) ...................................................................... 36 Fig 3.13 Threat of Violence ..................................................................................................... 38 Fig 3.14 Domestic Violence..................................................................................................... 38 Fig 3.15 Mental Ill Health......................................................................................................... 39 Fig 3.16 Physical Disability...................................................................................................... 39 Fig 3.17 16 to 17 yr olds .......................................................................................................... 40 Fig 3.18 18-20 (Care Leavers) ................................................................................................ 40 Fig 3.19 Previously in Care ..................................................................................................... 40 Fig 3.20 Prison Release .......................................................................................................... 43 Fig 3.21 Leaving Armed Forces .............................................................................................. 44 Fig 3.23a. African Caribbean................................................................................................... 44 b. Indian, Pakistani and Bangladeshi ...................................................................................... 44 c. Other Ethnicities .................................................................................................................. 44 Fig 3.24 Reasons for Homelessness (West Midlands) ........................................................... 46 Fig 3.25 Parents and Friends Unwilling to Accommodate ...................................................... 47 Fig 3.26 Non-violent Relationship Breakdown ........................................................................ 48 Fig 3.27 Violent Relationship Breakdown................................................................................ 48 Fig 3.28 Racial Harassment and Violence .............................................................................. 48 Fig 3.29 Non-racial Harassment and Violence........................................................................ 48 Fig 3.30 Rent Arrears .............................................................................................................. 49 Fig 3.31 Mortgage Arrears....................................................................................................... 49 Fig 3.32 Loss of Rented Accommodation ............................................................................... 49 Fig 3.33 Required to Leave NASS Accommodation ............................................................... 50 Fig 3.34 Formerly in Institution or Care ................................................................................... 51 Fig 3.35 Local Authority Housing Register as % of All Social Rented Stock (Source: HIP) ... 52 Fig 3.37 Net Change in Size of Social Rented Sector in West Midlands (Source: HIP) ......... 57 Fig 3.38 Change in Social Housing Stock by Local Authority (%) (Source: HIP).................... 57 Fig 3.39 Social Lettings & Homelessness Applications, Acceptances and Lettings (Source: HIP).......................................................................................................................................... 58 Fig 3.40 Homeless Lettings as % of All Social Lettings .......................................................... 60 Fig 3.41 Households in Temporary Accommodation at 31st March 2003 (Source: HIP) ........ 65 Fig 3.42 Number of Households with dependant children and/or a pregnant woman in temporary accommodation at 31st March 2003 (Source: HIP) ................................................ 66 Fig 3.43 % of Households with Dependant children and/or a pregnant woman in bed and breakfast accommodation on 31st March 2003 (Source: HIP) ................................................ 66 Fig 3.44 Average Length of Stay of Families in Bed & Breakfast Accommodation 2003/04 (BV183a).........................................................