Issue details

The purpose of this report is to seek Executive approval to allocate funds from the Flexible Homeless Support Grant to ensure the continuation of homelessness support services in Fareham following the reduction in funding for Social Inclusion Services by Hampshire County Council.

In November 2017, Hampshire County Council (HCC) agreed a £2m reduction in the Adult Health and Care budget for Social Inclusion services.  These services provide support for homeless people living in supported housing schemes across the county together with community support to vulnerable individuals or families requiring help to access or maintain accommodation.

The decision by HCC to reduce funding for Social Inclusion services from 2019 was part of a set of broader savings options (known as Transformation to 2019 Programme) to reduce spending.  Although HCC has no direct statutory responsibilities to deliver homelessness support services, they accept that as these services are relied upon by some of the most vulnerable in society, they will continue to invest, albeit at a much-reduced rate.

In September 2017, HCC set up a Social Inclusion Advisory Group, comprising representatives from Adult Social Care, Mental Health and Substance misuse, Public Health, Children’s Services, Probation, Department for Work and Pensions as well as the district/borough Housing teams.   This group was tasked with providing input into the reconfiguration of the existing Social Inclusion Services in preparation for public consultation.  Following the public consultation on the proposed changes to the existing services, a decision was taken by HCC in December 2018 to deliver a financial saving of £1.8million per annum from 01 August 2019 (the savings figure was reduced following an Equality Impact Assessment in May 2018).

To achieve this level of savings, HCC agreed to cease funding some of the services for homeless people and those threatened with homelessness that are currently available in Fareham.   This report sets out the changes that will take effect from 01 August 2019 and how the proposals for additional investment by Fareham Borough Council will ensure the continuation of homelessness support services for our most vulnerable residents.