Urgent Calls for Housing Associations to Work with Councils to Stop Homelessness
Members of the West Midlands Combined Authority's Overview and Scrutiny Committee have issued urgent pleas for housing associations to collaborate more effectively with local councils to prevent people from becoming homeless. The discussions centered on the work of the Homelessness Taskforce and strategies to reduce rough sleeping across the region.
Early Intervention and Support Are Key
Officers emphasized that keeping people in their homes and providing support as early as possible is vital to avoid evictions. They highlighted that the route to housing should not require individuals to become homeless first. This approach aims to address issues before they escalate, ensuring stability for vulnerable households.
Concerns Over Lack of Collaboration
Committee members raised significant concerns about the current lack of cooperation between local authorities and housing groups. This has led to calls for including specific clauses in agreements, where legally possible, to mandate joint efforts. For instance, Councillor Vera Waters from Walsall pointed out that housing associations often fail to link with council services like the 'money, home, job' program, which is designed to help residents stay in their homes.
Waters stated, "What doesn't happen is housing associations do not link in with the council to actually assess and prevent homelessness and Section 21s. So you end up with people getting section 21s when they should not." This highlights a critical gap in the system that needs addressing.
Exploring Legal and Contractual Solutions
Committee chair Andrew Burrow suggested exploring whether wording could be added to Combined Authority contracts with housing associations to require collaboration on homelessness prevention. He said, "Within the contracts we sign as a Combined Authority, where they agree to provide a certain amount of affordable housing, can we look at whether we can put some wording in to require the housing associations to work jointly with local authorities to stop these issues? Can we look if that's legally possible? I think it might be worth exploring."
Data-Driven Projects and National Strategies
Neelam Sunder, Head of Designing out Homelessness at WMCA, detailed ongoing projects using linked data to identify households at risk. For example, a collaboration with Walsall Council analyzes data on rent or council tax arrears and other indicators to intervene early with landlords, whether private or social. Sunder explained, "We're then trying to work with landlords to think through what we can do with that household, particularly with them in the property rather than them getting so far into arrears they get evicted."
Additionally, efforts are being made to involve schools in identifying at-risk households in high-risk areas. Sunder added, "It is all about keeping people in housing. The route to housing should not be to become homeless first." At the national level, there are talks about introducing a 'duty to collaborate' to prevent homelessness, though its specifics are still under discussion.
This comprehensive approach underscores the importance of proactive measures and stronger partnerships to tackle homelessness effectively in the West Midlands.
