Contract for the Provision of Housing Advice and Supported Temporary Accommodation

Housing Advice Service (Lot 1)
The homelessness legislation, Part 7 of the Housing Act 1996, provides the statutory under-pinning for action to tackle homelessness. The homelessness legislation places a general duty on housing authorities to ensure that advice and information about homelessness and preventing homelessness, is available to everyone in their district free of charge. The legislation also requires authorities to assist individuals and families who are homeless or threatened with homelessness and apply for help.

The service will be at the forefront of the development of a range of homelessness prevention services to reduce homelessness in Tameside. It will be delivered in accordance with the Homelessness legislation, the Homelessness Code of Guidance, case law and best practice.

To achieve this service will be expected to (this list is neither exclusive nor exhaustive):-

• Work in partnership with other agencies to identify groups and individuals who may potentially be at risk of homelessness, and to develop early intervention strategies
• Provide comprehensive and appropriate housing information services, using different mediums that offer a range of housing options to assist households potentially threatened with homelessness to resolve their own problems and to prevent homelessness.
• Provide free comprehensive advice, in accessible formats, including in writing, about homelessness and its prevention, in accordance with the individual needs of the household and that includes the full range of housing options available.
• Deliver pro-active interventions and advice to prevent homelessness before an existing home is lost.
• Secure appropriate temporary and permanent accommodation for eligible applicants in accordance with the powers and duties under the current homelessness legislation
• Identify where housing related support will increase the likelihood of tenancy sustainment, in all sectors, and make appropriate referrals for support
• Work with partner agencies in all sectors to develop solutions for households with other issues and needs that have contributed to the risk of homelessness.
• Participate in benchmarking and information sharing with other housing authorities and providers of housing advice services to identify good practice and opportunities to improve performance.
• Work in partnership with outreach agencies, substance misuse services and other services working with people at risk of sleeping rough
• Provide all applicants with advice and assistance to help them find accommodation in accordance with Section 192 Housing Act 1996
• Manage the Single Point of Access for referrals and assessments to supported housing (funded through Supporting People)
• Manage the Homelessness Prevention fund and use this innovatively to facilitate access to a range of housing options.
• Work with landlords in all sectors to increase the availability of housing
• Work with the Council to carry out research to ensure that prevention services are targeted to best address local needs and that services are cost effective and represent value for money
• Be responsible for delivering the Council’s cold weather protocol
• Work with the Council and with health colleagues in reducing the risk of people being discharged from hospital as homeless
• Work with Children’s Services to prevent homelessness among 16 and 17 year old young people and with care leavers.

The Service will be delivered from accommodation which is currently leased by Tameside Council therefore there are no costs to the Provider for premises.

The available budget for this service is £640,000 (this includes £110,000 to underwrite bookings in temporary accommodation when necessary)

Supported Temporary Accommodation Service (Lot 2)
The homelessness legislation, Part 7 of the Housing Act 1996 provides the statutory under-pinning for action to tackle homelessness. The homelessness legislation places a general duty on housing authorities to assist individuals and families who are homeless or threatened with homelessness and apply for help. The legislation also requires authorities to assist individuals and families who are homeless or threatened with homelessness and apply for help.

Under the legislation, certain categories of household, such as families with children and households that include someone who is vulnerable, for example because of pregnancy, old age, or physical or mental disability, have a priority need for accommodation.

Housing authorities must ensure that suitable accommodation is available for people who have a priority need, if they are eligible for assistance and unintentionally homeless (certain categories of persons from abroad are ineligible). This is known as the main homelessness duty. The housing authority can provide accommodation in their own stock or arrange for it to be provided by another landlord, for example, a housing association or a landlord in the private rented sector.
If settled accommodation is not immediately available, accommodation must be made available in the short term until the applicant can find a settled home, or until some other circumstance brings the duty to an end. This accommodation is referred to as temporary accommodation.

Part 7 of the Housing Act and subsequent amendments have determined that such temporary accommodation must be suitable, taking account of the location of the accommodation and its proximity to other amenities and facilities that might be needed by the household.

As far as possible the Local Authority should provide temporary accommodation within its own borough.

The Council is seeking to commission temporary accommodation with housing related support services. The buildings within which the services are delivered must meet minimum statutory standards.

The Council wishes to commission a minimum of 75 units of supported temporary accommodation for homeless households. The accommodation must be self-contained and furnished and based in locations throughout the borough. The accommodation must include units that are suitable for single people, childless couples and for families of varying sizes, up to 6 children. The accommodation must include units that are accessible for people with mobility issues.

The objectives of this service are to:-

3.1.1 Provide safe and comfortable temporary housing for those who are homeless, vulnerable and in need of support with the aim of resettling service users into the community at the earliest opportunity.
3.1.2 Provide suitable temporary accommodation to enable TMBC to meet its powers, duties and obligations under the homelessness legislation.
3.1.3 Offer support and resettlement services tailored to the needs of each household.
3.1.3 Implement a case management approach with frequent reviews of service user’s progress
3.1.4 Assess risks when accommodating service users with a history of problematic behaviour and ensure accommodation arrangements take account of any risk
3.1.4 Develop individual support plans that address barriers to service users moving into independent living, such as rent arrears at an early stage.
3.1.5 Ensure that service users understand their responsibilities and obligations while living in temporary accommodation and the consequences of any breach of these.
3.1.6 Provide a named key worker for each service user
3.1.7 Provide services in conjunction with other statutory and voluntary agencies to develop a holistic approach to meeting service users’ needs
3.1.8 Provide a well-trained and dedicated staff team who are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
3.1.9 Meet the needs of a diverse population and strive to adapt services accordingly.
3.1.10 Promote wider community sustainability and integrating by working with residents to prepare them fully for independent living and encouraging positive participation in local communities.
3.1.11 Access a wide range of housing options for service users to move on to including Registered Social Landlords and the private rented sector, utilising the Supported Housing Register and rent deposit scheme based at Tameside Housing Advice.
3.1.12 Provide out of hour’s telephone contact service for people presenting as homeless to Tameside Housing Advice.

The current provider, New Charter Housing Trust, have stated that they will not be prepared to enter into any arrangements with providers to manage the properties they currently provide under these contractual arrangements therefore organisations will need to be aware that they will have to source alternative accommodation.