Agenda item

Report of the Director of Care, Health and Housing

The Committee considered a report of the Director of Care, Health and Housing, which outlined the extensive engagement with key stakeholders in Coventry and which proposed recommendations as to the requirements for the commissioned housing related support services, effective from 1st April 2026. The report will also be considered by Cabinet on 8 July, 2025.

The report indicated that the existing housing related support contracts went live on 1st April 2020, at that point the country had been in a national lockdown due to the Coronavirus pandemic for approximately 1 week. Contract mobilisation at a time of national crisis was challenging however the providers mobilised and started delivering support and services to those in need of housing related support. The existing contracts are due to expire on 31st March 2026.

The housing related support services support the statutory homelessness service in a number of ways. Without the hostel type accommodation that is commissioned, a significant percentage of the occupants would need to be provided with Temporary Accommodation (TA) by the Council. This would result in additional financial pressure on the service. In addition to this a percentage of the floating support provision supports people in hostel type accommodation e.g. Frank Walsh House, The Foyer etc. Any reduction in support to this provision could result in these services being unviable and therefore placing another pressure on the Council’s TA numbers and provision.

Since the contracts were previously awarded in 2020 there has been an increase of 95% in the number of households and individuals approaching the Council in housing need. This is particularly the case for families and for individuals who require support for multiple complex needs. This has placed substantial pressure on the housing and homelessness service and its budget over the last few years.

The new provision will support the delivery of the Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy (2025- 2029). The key aim is to ensure that the newly commissioned services are not only focussed on the delivery of services to households who are in a crisis, but that prevention work is fundamental in the delivery of these services.

It is proposed that there will be 5 commissioned Lots instead of the current 4 to deliver housing related support services and specialist accommodation and that, within these, there are specific Lots that address and support the aspirations within the Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy and for specific groups at risk of homelessness. The Lots that approval is sought to commission through this exercise are Adults with Complex Needs, Older Single People (25yrs +), Young People (18-24), Families, and Women with Complex Needs.

In terms of how the new Lots will compare with previous Lots there will be some difference, which includes a slight reduction in the number of commissioned bed spaces, and a reconfiguration of the floating support provision. This is because although costs have increased, the budget has remained static so need to ensure that the services are targeted where they will have the greatest impact and supports how we meet our statutory obligations to the residents of Coventry.

The Committee asked questions and received responses in relation to the following areas:

·  Clarification that Lot 2 (Complex Needs Provision (Over 25’s) provides support services for both men and women but accommodation for men only and Lot 5 (Women with Complex Needs Provision) provides support services and accommodation for women only.

·  LGBTQ+ people are referred to appropriate support services and that there is a specific policy for trans people being placed into temporary accommodation.

·  There is a requirement of the contracts that there has to be a plan of support offered which is reviewed every four weeks to support people being tenancy ready.

·  That the contracts would be robustly monitored and that the finances are safeguarded. This included regular visits to providers to meet residents as well as regular qualitative and quantitative reporting.

·  That the contracts will deliver actions within the Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy and contribute to the priorities and performance indicators in the One Coventry Plan.

·  That there are several routes to access support including the Council’s own services, those of partners and self-referral.

The Committee requested that the Equality Impact Assessment be circulated prior to consideration of the report by Cabinet. The Committee also requested that information about the awarded contracts be sent to Chairs of Audit and Procurement and the Communities and Neighbourhoods Scrutiny Board (4).

RESOLVED that the Scrutiny Co-ordination Committee endorse the report and recommend that the Cabinet approve the report at their meeting on 8 July, 2025.