Mid and East Antrim Housing Investment Plan 2019-23
Outcome 1 – Help people find housing support and solutions Plans 2018/19
Progress
Plans 2019/23
NIHE will work with organisations to deliver homeless services, in line with Homelessness Strategy 201722.
There were 1,516 homelessness presentations and 1,088 homelessness acceptances. 86% of new tenancies over 12 months were sustained and homelessness was prevented.
Development and publication of the Chronic Homelessness Action Plan.
Roll in of the Housing Solutions and Support Approach will continue across NI.
This approach is used for all customers who contact the NIHE with a housing issue. Staff explore a range of suitable housing and support options with customers and provide them with information to allow them to make informed decisions about their housing options. The approach has been developed to focus on tenancy sustainment and homeless prevention. Housing Solutions and Support teams now operate across all Housing Executive local Offices. The Customer Management System (CMS) is now being used by all Housing Solutions staff and Patch Managers in order to allow better case management of customer’s housing journeys.
NIHE has made £390k available to fund Smartmove private rented access scheme across NI for 2018/19.
The contract with Smartmove for the provision of a Private Rented Sector Access Scheme (PRSAS) ended on 30th September 2018. All referrals made prior to that date, which resulted in a tenancy being created continued to receive the 6 month tenancy management service as per the agreed contract. This resulted in a total spend of £360k for 2018/19.
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Implementation of year one actions in Chronic Homelessness Action Plan. Ensure the new approach continues to be effectively embedded across the organisation. Conduct peer reviews to benchmark the NIHE Housing Solutions service and identify good practice and areas for improvement. Further develop the Housing Solutions and Support approach. Including through accreditation of staff. Ensure information is readily available across all tenures to meet the needs of a housing options service. Deliver an adequate supply of permanent accommodation to prevent homelessness and repeat homelessness. Work has been ongoing to investigate and develop a replacement PRSAS. A number of consultation events have taken place and a specification has been produced. A business case is ongoing with the aim of having a new PRSAS procured and in place by September 2019.
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