Northern Voices: Delivering Universal Credit and Tackling Homelessness outside London
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Policy in Practice and Northern Housing Consortium hosted this important event to bring Westminster policy makers together with northern organisations. Delegates joined central government speakers and local influencers in Leeds for this free one day workshop to exclusively hear the latest policy updates on Universal Credit managed migration from DWP and homelessness prevention from MHCLG. They helped to create a united voice of influence for people and practitioners in the north. Attendees: > Heard from central government about policy updates and plans > Contributed experiences in order to influence central government > Learned from the experiences of trailblazing organisations in the north > Networked and benchmark with like minded peers Who attended: Senior decision makers, elected representatives and team leaders charged with supporting vulnerable people and tackling homelessness attended. The outputs from the table discussions will form a white paper that will be presented to DWP and MHCLG. For further details email hello@policyinpractice.co.uk or call Donna Gallagher on 0742 8783581. Visit www.policyinpractice.co.uk
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Northern Voices: Delivering Universal Credit and Tackling Homelessness outside London
- 1. NORTHERN VOICES: DELIVERING UNIVERSAL CREDIT AND TACKLING HOMELESSNESS OUTSIDE LONDON Create a united voice of influence for people and practitioners in the north
- 2. WELCOME AND INTRODUCTIONS Donna Gallagher, Policy in Practice Satty Rai, Northern Housing Consortium
- 3. UNIVERSAL CREDIT CASE STUDIES FROM THE FRONTLINE Tina Given Mentor, Me & My Learning Melton Borough Council
- 4. UNIVERSAL CREDIT: ACHIEVING A SUCCESSFUL MANAGED MIGRATION Annette Madden, Head of Strategic Local Authority Engagement & Universal Support, DWP
- 5. HOMELESSNESS: DELIVERING THE POLICY INTENTIONS BEHIND THE HOMELESSNESS PREVENTION ACT Anna Whalen, Senior Advisor Homelessness, Advice & Support Team, MHCLG
- 6. Policy in Practice Conference 23rd October 2018 Anna Whalen Homelessness Advice and Support Team Homelessness and Rough Policy and Implementation Update
- 7. Overview • Brief background to the Act and support on implementation • Rough sleeping and wider homelessness • Next steps
- 8. 8 Trends in homelessness The Homelessness Reduction Act was introduced in a context of rising acceptances and numbers of households in temporary accommodation. Since 2010 homeless acceptances and the associated use of temporary accommodation and bed and breakfast have been increasing – although in the last year there has been a decrease in acceptances and reduction of families in B&B over 6 weeks The number of households accepted as homeless and in temporary accommodation, Q1 2004 to Q1 2018 (000s) 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110 120 130 140 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 Thousands Temporary Accomodation Acceptances (rolling year) • 56,580 households were accepted as homeless 2017-18 • 79,880 households were in temporary accommodation as at 31 March 2018; • 5,940 households in bed and breakfast (B&B) accommodation at 31 March 2018. Source: MHCLG P1E
- 9. 9 Homelessness Reduction Act Shifts local authority approach to homelessness from less crisis intervention to more prevention, ensuring more people are entitled to help Background • Housing Act 1996 Part 7 remains the primary legislation • Prior to April 2018 the principal duty was to secure accommodation for applicants who were eligible, homeless or threatened with homelessness within 28 days and who had a ‘priority need’ for housing and were homeless unintentionally • Homelessness Reduction Act 2017 amended the 1996 Act, introducing new statutory duties to act to prevent and relieve homelessness for all eligible applicants who are homeless or threatened with homelessness within 56 days Before 3 April 2018 • Single people with no clear priority need were entitled to ‘advice and assistance’, but their needs were often not assessed • Prevention activity was ‘good practice’, but not compulsory – crisis response at the point of homelessness was commonplace • The process involved an application, officers undertaking inquiries, assessing an applicant against the statutory tests and making a decision, without needing to involve the applicant in finding possible solutions Now • All eligible applicants have a full assessment of their housing and support needs. • Local connection, intentionality and priority need are not a barrier to accessing support. • Applicants and authorities work together to prevent or relieve homelessness.
- 10. Homelessness Reduction Act 10 The Act placed a number of new duties on local housing authorities • Expanded advice and information duty: Available to all residents regardless of eligibility. Advice must be designed to meet the needs of particular groups: care leavers, former members of the armed forces, people leaving custody, victims of domestic abuse, people leaving hospital and people with mental health issues. • Prevention duty : Owed to all eligible applicants threatened with homelessness in the next 56 days irrespective of ‘local connection’, ‘priority need’ or ‘intentional homelessness’. Includes tenants served with a valid Section 21 notice (no fault eviction) which expires within 56 days. • Relief duty : Owed to people who are actually homeless and lasts for 56 days, irrespective of ‘priority need’ or ‘intentional homelessness’. The local authority may refer to another authority if the applicant has no local connection to their authority
- 11. 11 Duty to refer Will encourage local housing authorities and other public authorities to build stronger partnerships focussed on early help and intervention and to build more integrated pathways and services. It will help ensure that people who face the threat of homelessness are identified earlier through their contacts with public authorities and get referred for help • We have worked with OGDs to publish guidance aimed at the specified public authorities. • We also gave LGA feedback on their guidance • DWP and MoJ produced operational guidance for their public authorities. DHSC also produced guidance for hospitals. DfE wrote to Directors of Children’s Services and put information in a weekly bulletin. • We asked local authorities to adopt a standard email address for referrals (dutytorefer@localauthority.gov.uk) and to date most LAs have adopted this and we are working with the rest to encourage them to do so The duty applies to: • Prisons and youth offender institutions; • Secure training centres and Secure colleges; • Youth offending teams; • Probation services (including community rehabilitation companies); • Jobcentre Plus; • Social service authorities; • Emergency departments and Urgent treatment centres; • Hospitals in their function of providing inpatient care; • Secretary of State for defence in relation to members of the armed forces. Consent is needed prior to a referral being made. We have provided support ahead of 1 October to other government departments
- 12. 12 A Commitment to Refer: Housing Associations The National Housing Federation’s ‘Commitment to Refer’ • For those agencies not subject to the duty to refer it is still possible and helpful to refer early to a local authority to prevent homelessness • The National Housing Federation have worked with MHCLG and developed a ‘commitment to refer’ for housing associations. The guidance is available on their website: https://www.housing.org.uk/resource-library/browse/commitment- to-refer-guidance-for-housing-associations/
- 13. 13 Support for implementation and work on homelessness prevention To support the implementation of the new legislation we have: • Updated the Homelessness Code of Guidance • Provided £72.7 million in new burdens funding • Committed to review the Act within 2 years • Established the Homelessness Advice and Support Team (HAST) who offer advice and support to local authorities on preventing homelessness and implementing the Act • Funded Trailblazers are trying out new approaches to prevention that others can learn from, including some ‘upstream’ interventions • LB Southwark was funded as an ‘early adopter’ of the HRA. They hosted visits and shared their learning and tools on request with large numbers of authorities
- 14. Homelessness - the current position: Rough sleeping has more than doubled since 2010 4, 751 people slept rough on a single night in Autumn 2017, up 15% from 2016 0 200 400 600 800 1,000 1,200 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 Numberofroughsleepers Number of rough sleepers by region 2010 - 2017 London South East East of England South West North West East Midlands West Midlands Yorkshire and The Humber North East LocalAuthority 2016 2017 Brightonand Hove 144 178 Manchester 78 94 Luton 76 87 Bristol,Cityof 74 86 Bedford 59 76 Southend-on-Sea 44 72 Cornwall 99 68 Oxford 33 61 Birmingham 55 57 Salford 26 49 14
- 15. 15 The Government’s focus on ending rough sleeping ”We will continue to combat homelessness and rough sleeping including through full implementation of the Homelessness Reduction Act. Our aim will be to halve rough sleeping over the course of the parliament and eliminate it altogether by 2027.” - Conservative Party Manifesto 2,070 4,750 9,900 1,770 4,130 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000 6000 7000 8000 9000 10000 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 2020 2022 Rough sleepers in England on a single night in autumn Target Projection Outturn Red line= if trends were to continue at same rate
- 16. The Rough Sleeping Initiative Building on the Homelessness Reduction Act, there is greater focus on rough sleeping. To help meet the commitment to halve the number of people rough sleeping by 2022 and to eliminate it altogether by 2027 we have published the Rough Sleeping Strategy and created the RSI 16 Rough Sleeping Initiative 2018/19 • 83 local authorities reporting the highest levels of rough sleeping • £30 million for this year to have immediate impact on reducing rough sleeping • New team of Rough Sleeping Advisers working with local authorities • Reporting to Secretary of State regularly on progress 2019/20 • Allocated a further £34 million provisionally to the 83 authorities • Expressions of Interest letters to all other authorities regarding a further £11 million funding available to areas with rough sleeping , but this not linked to the rough sleeping count
- 17. Rough Sleeping Strategy published in August 2018 MHCLG responsibilities • Rapid Rehousing Pathway fund launched in October: Somewhere Safe to Stay, Move On funding outside of London,, funding Local Lettings support, introducing navigators. • A bespoke fund to help non-UK nationals who sleep rough. • Commitment to extend Social Impact Bond programmes by launching the Young Futures Fund. • New measures on data and accountability, including role of homelessness and rough sleeping strategies, review of frameworks and legislation around homelessness and work to improve data collection. • New funding for an improved Streetlink which will help mobilise public interest • A focus on vulnerable groups, including new research on LGBT rough sleepers. • A commitment to providing annual updates on the strategy. Recover The strategy is based around 3 central pillars: IntervenePrevent Responsibility for cohorts and drivers sits across a range of departments and therefore to tackle it requires a cross-government response 17
- 18. OGD responsibilities Home Office Department of Health and Social Care Department for Education Ministry of Justice Department for Culture Media and Sport Department of Work and Pensions • Targeted immigration casework support • A national point of contact for assistance with immigration status • Rapid audit of gaps in provision of substance abuse and mental health services [with aim to provide up to £30m from 19/20] • Safeguarding Adult Reviews • Additional support for care leavers at risk of rough sleeping • Offender accommodation pilots • Increased accountability for prison Governors and Community Rehabilitation Companies • Expanding the social finance market including SIBs • Homelessness experts in every Jobcentre Plus • Improving guidance & practice sharing for work coaches & external stakeholders • Exploring how welfare works for Housing First 18 A cross-Government strategy and action on rough sleeping
- 19. Other support to prevent and relieve homelessness 19 A range of funding to support work on homelessness and rough sleeping • Flexible Homelessness Support Grant - £617 million ring-fenced funding from 2017/18-2019/20. Funding breakdown 2017/18: £196 million: 2018/19: £206 million, 2019/20: £215 million. • Private Rented Access Scheme funding - On 10 October we launched this £20 million fund to enable better access to the PRS for those who are or threatened with homelessness. Funding is to prevent single homelessness and reduce households in TA.
- 20. Other support to prevent and relieve homelessness 20 A range of funding to support work on homelessness and rough sleeping • Rapid Rehousing Pathways for rough sleepers: From the Government’s Rough Sleeping Strategy - Expressions of interest requested from local areas wishing to be early adopters of new provision: 15 Somewhere Safe to Stay hubs; Social Lettings Agencies; Supported Lettings and new Navigator roles to support people rough sleeping. £14 million this year and additional funding next year for other areas. • The Move on Fund of £50 million administered by Homes England is now open for bids from areas outside London. This fund will provide capital for the delivery of homes for people leaving hostels and domestic abuse refuges, and also fund provision of tenancy support for at least two years.
- 21. ANY QUESTIONS? Contact email for enquiries Hast@communities.gsi.gov.uk
- 22. LATEST RESEARCH ON THE IMPACTS OF UNIVERSAL CREDIT ON INDIVIDUAL FAMILIES Zoe Charlesworth, Head of Policy, Policy in Practice
- 23. Zoe Charlesworth Policy in Practice Latest research on the impacts of Universal Credit on individual families
- 24. Latest research on the impacts of Universal Credit on individual families • How data analytics informs policy • The Policy in Practice approach to data analytics • Impact of Universal Credit: research findings
- 25. How data analytics informs policy • Evidence to support front-line experience • Depth and breadth of impacts • Longitudinal analysis of impacts • Informing work at the local level • Data-led evidence for informing national conversations
- 26. Your Housing Benefit / Council Tax data Our Benefit and Budgeting Calculator Rich, detailed impact assessment: who is impacted and by how much Analytical engine and household datasets
- 27. . Universal Credit – understanding the national picture 2.8m households receive less support under Universal Credit (38% of households) than under legacy benefits. The average loss is £52/week. 2.0m households gain more support under Universal Credit (29% of households) than under legacy benefits. Average gain is £26/week. 2.2m households receive similar levels of support (31% of households) if they were in receipt of Universal Credit or legacy benefits.
- 28. Groups losing support: • People living with disability • Self-employed • Working home owners in receipt of tax credits • Working lone parents • Families with more than two children Universal Credit: understanding the national picture
- 29. Groups gaining support: • Private tenants (in work) +£14.52/week • ESA Support group + £7.76/week • Working households + £30.00/week Universal Credit: understanding the national picture £14.52 £7.76 £30.00 £0.00 £5.00 £10.00 £15.00 £20.00 £25.00 £30.00 £35.00 Private tenants ESA Support Working households Average weekly change in support for groups gaining support under Unviersal Credit (£/week)
- 30. All working households 37% of working households (1.3m) gain support 51% of working households (1.7m) lose support Those gaining gain £30/week on average Those losing lose £47/week on average Universal Credit: understanding the national picture
- 31. Employed households 45% of employed households gain support 45% of employed households lose support 10% of employed households receive similar levels of support But those losing lose more than those that gain Those gaining gain £25/week on average Those losing lose £35/week on average Universal Credit: understanding the national picture
- 32. Non-working households Just under half of all non-working households will see support stay at levels that are the same, or similar, to current levels. 22% of households will see an increase in support. The average increase is £20/week. Of concern are the 29% of non-working households (1.1m households) who will see support reduce. The average reduction in support is significant at £60/week. This cohort includes those in receipt of PIP/DLA who see substantial reductions in support. Universal Credit: understanding the national picture
- 35. DELIVERING UNIVERSAL CREDIT AND PREVENTING HOMELESSNESS IN GATESHEAD Mark Smith, Director of Public Service Reform, Gateshead Council Neil Bouch, Executive Director of Operations, Gateshead Housing Company
- 36. 23 October 2018 Tackling Universal Credit and preventing homelessness in Gateshead Neil Bouch Executive Director of Operations The Gateshead Housing Company Mark Smith Director, Public Services Reform Gateshead Council
- 37. Gateshead A borough within Tyne and Wear, with a mix of urban and rural areas and a population of 202,400 73rd most deprived local authority in England Nearly 23,600 (12%) people in Gateshead live in one of the 10% most deprived areas of England
- 38. The Gateshead Housing Company Arms Length Management Organisation managing housing for Gateshead Council Manage over 20,000 homes including 19,000 council tenancies. Provide a wide range of services including homelessness prevention and support
- 39. Implementation of Universal Credit Live Service introduced in June 2015 - Take-up was limited and slow - 381 of our tenants on UC in just over 2 years Full service introduced in October 2017 - Wider range of claimants - Rollout much faster in the last 12 months - Now have 2,425 tenants in receipt of UC
- 40. Additional Advice and Support In Gateshead we found it to necessary to mitigate the impact on tenants and the increase in rent arrears Our Rent and Income Service had already evolved to focus on arrears prevention and tenancy sustainability, rather than just arrears recovery Role of Advice and Support Officer developed: - Before UC we had 2 Officers - For Live Service - increased to 4 Officers - For Full Service - increased to 10 Officers + 2 Team Leaders Advice role sits alongside a more generalist Rent and Income Officer role managing introductory and secure tenancies
- 41. Working in partnership Advice and Support Officers have a focus on helping our tenants sustain their tenancies - they are based in our Civic Centre - but also have a regular presence at Citizens Advice - and at Gateshead JobCentre Strong support links developed with local Foodbanks Advice and Support Officer seconded into Public Sector Reform prototype team Chief Executive of Gateshead CAB seconded to council as strategic lead for tackling inequality and poverty
- 42. Types of support required Assistance with original claim Help in setting up email address Applying for Alternative Payment Arrangement (APA) Supporting tenant during wait for first payment Supporting tenant if payment is not correct Contacting Universal Credit Service Centre on behalf of tenant (with explicit consent!)
- 43. APAs and Managed Payments Around 39% of our tenants on Universal Credit have Alternative Payment Arrangements (APAs) in place, because of vulnerability or history of arrears A much higher proportion of claimants than DWP advised they were expecting Whilst positive in terms of direct payment, managed payments can be complicated - Housing costs deducted from claims monthly - Paid to council 4 x weekly in arrears - Some months receive none, others receive 2 - Rent accounts often seem incorrect
- 44. Recurring Issues Underpayment of UC due to elements missed from claim Impact of minimum income floor on self-employed claimants Overpayments and adjustments applied to claimant’s standard allowance without warning Time spent on hold when ringing UC service centre Service centre staff not prepared to check that explicit consent has been given by claimant to deal with third party Claimants providing important information in journal that is not being acted on by UC case manager Requests for APAs (in qualifying circumstances) being rejected – even with Trusted Partner Status
- 45. Impact Even with the additional support provided… Total rent arrears of UC claimants increased by £842,000 Food bank usage increased by 54% from 2015/16 - 2017/18 Increase in clients presenting with mental health issues Average Rent arrears of UC claimants increased by £349 28 UC tenancy terminations citing relationship breakdown since full service introduced in Oct 2017
- 46. £85 £81 £83 £89 £102 £110 £115 £121 £145 £0 £20 £40 £60 £80 £100 £120 £140 £160 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 Gateshead Council average rent arrears 2010 - 2018
- 47. £145 £121 £592 £532 £0 £100 £200 £300 £400 £500 £600 £700 All tenants Under-occupation Universal Credit Benefit cap Average rent arrears: impact of welfare reform
- 48. £145 £121 £592 £532 £0 £100 £200 £300 £400 £500 £600 £700 All tenants Under-occupation Universal Credit Benefit cap Average rent arrears: impact of welfare reform £269 if no DHP
- 49. Tackling wider issues Advice and Support Officers may start to assist with a rent issue or a welfare benefit issue… …but they are uncovering a range of other issues too Uncovering the reasons for non payment often reveals a further issue to be tackled (causes) - Health needs, GP registration, loneliness - More complex issues
- 50. #wider workforce Rethinking the Public Health workforce -Active wider workforce: https://www.rsph.org.uk/uploads/assets/uploaded/48311807-771c- 429c-a3d547e24f08a646.pdf - Make an explicit contribution to public health daily - Have a direct or indirect impact on wellbeing - Already deliver or can engage in healthy conversations - Address the wider determinants of health, including mental health - Reach vulnerable populations
- 51. Wider Public Service Reform • Part of a wider Public Service Reform programme – Longer term perspective – Focus on cause and demand reduction – Emergent learning – Person shaped – 2 Rules – all else up for grabs
- 52. “Thriving” 32,500 (18%) Financially comfortable, home owning, good life expectations “Managing” 42,000 (21%) Stable families, average income, mainly owner occupier “Just coping” 62,000 (31%) Low income, potentially some benefits, some health issues, lower price housing “Vulnerable” 60,000 (30%) Social rent, low cost private rent, low income/benefits, poor health
- 53. × How can the Council do more with less? What is the best we can do collectively with what we have between us?
- 55. PSR Principles × Opinions × Decision made by a hierarchy × Do our bit and refer it on × Assess – Do – Refer (repeat) × Eligibility determines who/what × Measures to fuel carrot and stick Evidence Decisions made in the work Case manage/pull for help Understand, Rebalance, Maintain Person sets the boundary Measures used to learn/improve
- 56. Council Tax Prototype 35 cases 2 archetypes
- 57. Archetype 1: ‘Tangled’ No single dominant issue, lots to do This is by far the most common
- 59. Archetype 2: ‘Trapped’ One dominant cause/issue to tackle before the others. 4 from 35
- 60. Homeless Prototype Public Health - Homeless Health Needs assessment: ‘homelessness is not just a housing issue’ ‘the system is weakest where it needs to be the strongest’ https://www.gatesheadjsna.org.uk/media/7407/Gateshead- Homelessness-and-Multiple-and-Complex-Needs-Health- Needs-Assessment-May- 2017/pdf/Gateshead_Homelessness_and_Multiple_and_Comp lex_Needs_Health_Needs_Assessment_-_May_2017.pdf
- 61. Homeless Prototype Principles Social Care Housing Support Health Housing Advice Access to benefits; employment; education and training Probation Substance Misuse Services Counselling Services • Fully understand the customer and their real problems • Helping the customer to identify solutions to their problems • Helping the customer to help themselves • Pull in expertise when needed
- 62. Areas of focus Effective joint working to address underlying causes of homelessness and prevent homelessness Reduce tenancy failure and increase tenancy sustainment Prevent hospital re-admissions Reduce A & E frequent flyers Reduce the number of drug related deaths Access to dual diagnosis services Access to timely and appropriate services for mental & physical health Address the effects of poverty and social exclusion Reduce the number of domestic abuse and repeat domestic abuse cases
- 63. CTax Library Community Link Workers Hub in Community Homelessness PoC Proof of Concept I July 2018 October 2018 March 2019 July 2019 Sept 2019 Proofs of Concept II Prototypes PoC I PoC II Prototypes Informed Choice Council Tax as a trigger Multiple triggers Leads from data and LK Unlimited triggers Leads from data and LK Does this work? Learning to be bespoke Expanding bespoke Developing generalist role Learning proactivity Becoming part of a community that helps it to thrive Is it viable? If so, where next? Does it work for people? What does it do to demand? Effiicacy, demand, as PoC I Efficiency – what does this do to costs? Outcomes for citizens Efficiency/Speed Costs/Demand Morale What governance and structures sustain it? What does this mean for supporting services? Falls and Frailty Reform – localities, partnerships, structures Next steps…
- 64. OUR EXPERIENCES OF WORKING AS MULTI-DISCIPLINARY TEAM James Williams, Active Inclusion Partnership, Newcastle City Council
- 65. James Williams Newcastle’s Homelessness Prevention Trailblazer: Making the prevention of homelessness everyone’s business
- 66. On 17 October 2016 the Prime Minister launched a new Homelessness Prevention Programme: - £20 million for local authorities to pilot new initiatives to tackle homelessness in their area (Homelessness Prevention Trailblazers) - £10 million for targeted support for those at imminent risk of sleeping rough or those new to the streets - £10 million in Social Impact Bonds to help long-term rough sleepers with the most complex needs Background – Homelessness Prevention Programme “a fresh government approach to tackling homelessness by focusing on the underlying issues which can lead to somebody losing their home” (Theresa May, Prime Minister, 17 October 2016)
- 67. Background – Homelessness Prevention Trailblazer • Newcastle is one of only 3 national ‘early adopters’ for the Homelessness Prevention Trailblazer part of the programme (alongside London Borough of Southwark & Greater Manchester) • Our Homelessness Prevention Trailblazer is a public service transformation programme focused on the prevention of homelessness at an earlier stage by working with a wider group of residents at risk to help them before they reach crisis point. The profile & funding has given us an opportunity to build on & strengthen our existing Active Inclusion Newcastle approach, contributing to strengthening Newcastle’s citywide system for identifying & responding to the risk of homelessness at the earliest stage, & improving our understanding of the causes of homelessness & the effectiveness of our responses £936,000 from Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government (MHCLG) Runs from January 2017 to March 2019
- 68. National Audit Office report Tackling Problem Debt (2018) • 8.3m UK residents are in problem debt & 40% of reported debt problems in 2017-18 relate to debts owed to government, up from 21% in 2011-12 • Estimated minimum annual public cost of problem debt is £248m The National Audit Office report on Homelessness (2017) • 21% fall in housing services spending & 59% fall in Supporting People funding since 2010 • 60% rise in households in temporary accommodation since 2011 The Homelessness England Monitor 2018 • Homelessness due to loss of a private rented tenancy increased by 400% • Rough sleeping increased by 169% since 2010 Newcastle context: population 298,250 (2016 est) Tyne & Wear conurbation of 1,118,000 (2014 est) In Newcastle: Welfare reforms £129m cut by 2023 Austerity £283m less by 2020 • 18% of 535 debt advice clients with unsustainable budgets (2017-18) • £3,623,327 of Your Homes Newcastle rent arrears (March 2018) • End Child Poverty report estimates that in 2017, 36% of children in live in relative poverty after housing costs (24th in UK). As high as 56% in some areas of Newcastle • The UK’s largest foodbank • Conditionality moderated but main national policy aim is work & independence
- 69. 0 5 10 15 20 25 2009/10 2010/11 2011/12 2012/13 2013/14 2014/15 2015/16 2016/17 2017/18 Newcastle England City with lowest rate of preventions 6 9 Homelessness preventions: core cities Core Cities average
- 70. 0.00 0.05 0.10 0.15 0.20 0.25 0.30 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 Highest value England 7 0 People sleeping rough: core cities Core Cities average Newcastle (lowest value)
- 71. • Following our selection as an ‘early adopter’, other areas were invited to bid into the Homelessness Prevention Trailblazer fund. MHCLG stated that they wanted to establish a network of ambitious Homelessness Prevention Trailblazer areas who “want to go further & faster with reform & develop new approaches to preventing homelessness” & that these areas would: - carry out prevention activity earlier & with a wider group of people – not just those who are owed the statutory duty - lead across partnerships & services to prevent & reduce homelessness - collaborate with other services & / or use data to identify at-risk households & target interventions well before residents are threatened with the loss of their home - help MHCLG to overhaul how data is collected & analysed to build their evidence base on ‘what works’ to prevent homelessness, testing the effects of these approaches in different areas to inform a sustainable approach to homelessness prevention - work with other areas to share best practice & commit to sharing learning with central government Background – Homelessness Prevention Trailblazer
- 72. Evidence – analytics (including predictive analytics), research & cost benefit analysis Inclusion Plan & ‘pathways’ Multidisciplinary team – an action research project (case finding not case responding) Homelessness Prevention Pilot with Jobcentre Plus Entrenched Rough Sleeping Social Impact Bond Outcomes focused commissioning Governance for a homelessness prevention system Workforce development Our Homelessness Prevention Trailblazer – system change 2 year programme using £936k of MHCLG funding to consolidate our Active Inclusion Newcastle partnership approach to supporting the foundations for a stable life
- 73. Purpose: To maximise the contacts that residents have with publicly funded services & to provide a more integrated response to residents To date, we have: • Trained 134 Jobcentre Plus work coaches in how to identify & respond to residents who have unstable housing or are at risk of homelessness • Given work coaches ways to refer residents who have unstable housing or are at risk of homelessness to advice & support, clarifying whether Newcastle City Council’s Housing Advice Centre, Your Homes Newcastle (YHN – the arms’ length management organisation responsible for managing council housing in Newcastle) or the charity Crisis are the most appropriate service to respond • Helped work coaches & staff from the above to jointly determine the best way to respond to those residents, with housing & homelessness services working to resolve residents’ housing issues & updating Jobcentre Plus, & Jobcentre Plus putting in place easements to residents’ work-related conditionality & adapting Claimant Commitments (if relevant) Homelessness Prevention Pilot with Jobcentre Plus
- 74. Homelessness Prevention Pilot with Jobcentre Plus Crisis Skylight Newcastle City Council Your Homes Newcastle Pilot to date 224 215 42 0 50 100 150 200 250 134 Jobcentre Plus work coaches trained who have identified 481 residents as being at potential risk of homelessness, referring them to specialist advice & support (5 June 2017 to 30 September 2018) Examples of residents identified as being at risk of homelessness by Jobcentre Plus: A resident disclosed to a work coach that he was sleeping in his car after leaving his private rented tenancy due to concerns around affordability. He was referred to the Housing Advice Centre who secured him crisis accommodation. He moved into his own supported tenancy within 10 days A refugee was referred by a work coach due to concerns about affordability of a private rented tenancy. She had been due to share with a friend but the friend opted to move to London leaving her liable for the full rent. She was given assistance to leave the tenancy & moved to supported accommodation with the North of England Refugee Service A YHN tenant who was struggling financially was referred by a work coach & subsequently provided with budgeting advice & helped to claim a Discretionary Housing Payment. The resident was also assisted in restructuring their deductions from Universal Credit to maximise their available income
- 75. Homelessness Prevention Pilot case studies • a resident who disclosed he was sleeping in his car after leaving his private rented tenancy due to concerns around affordability was referred to Newcastle City Council & moved in to his own supported tenancy within ten days. • a pregnant 20-year-old resident was referred to Newcastle City Council after being asked to leave by her family. She was helped to secure supported accommodation to meet her immediate need & was helped to move in to her own Your Homes Newcastle tenancy ahead of her child’s birth • a refugee who was referred due to his JOMAST accommodation coming to an end was linked back in to the Your Homes Newcastle Move on Team after initially not engaging. Mediation with a friend secured short term accommodation for two weeks whilst he waited for a Your Homes Newcastle flat that he had been offered. He subsequently moved in to the property& he was linked in with an Advice and Support Worker for ongoing support.
- 76. Homelessness Prevention Pilot with Jobcentre Plus outcomes Top three outcomes recorded by each partner in the pilot Newcastle City Council Advice and information provided 30% Supported housing 23% Access housing options 17% YHN Negotiation/Mediation/Advocacy work to prevent eviction/repossession 81% Discretionary Housing Payments to reduce shortfall 13% Advice and information provided 6% Crisis Advice and information provided 69% Helped to secure accommodation found by applicant, without financial support 17% Supported housing provided 8%
- 77. To build on the progress of the Homelessness Prevention Pilot we plan to continue working in conjunction with Jobcentre Plus Future plans: • Align the claimant commitment with support planning: We plan to build on the work described above by working together to understand how to better align the conditionality requirements identified through the claimant commitment with housing support planning. This will help us to jointly understand residents’ obstacles to having a stable life & to align conditionality and support accordingly. • Supporting residents to overcome the obstacles to securing and sustaining work: We will strengthen the promotion of the value of work & how the improved alignment of support to overcome the obstacles to a stable life can help vulnerable residents to secure and sustain work & to be supported to progress to better work. Next steps
- 78. Proportionate partnership arrangements Primary – for all public authorities who have a duty to refer & other agencies that work with residents who may be at risk of homelessness, we will provide: • A referral system – online, phone & in person • Information & support – consultancy line & resources • Training – on line & face to face • Quarterly reviews & opportunities to jointly plan routine learning framework to develop collective sense of coherence & to move from silo based outputs to outcomes Secondary – the above plus where the agency works with a higher volume of residents more likely to be at risk of homelessness, we will provide: • Protocols, e.g. Hospital Discharge • Tailored training, e.g. with Jobcentre Plus for 134 work coaches • Single points of contact for designated liaison, including joint case management • Information sharing & case recording arrangements • Co-located staff & participation in multidisciplinary teams Crisis – consider multidisciplinary responses for those in crisis or where the above doesn't work
- 79. Questions & more information • For information on homelessness prevention in Newcastle visit www.newcastle.gov.uk/homelessnesspreventionforprofessionals • For information about the government’s welfare reforms, including a timeline of the changes, visit www.newcastle.gov.uk/welfarereform • For information about Universal Credit in Newcastle, visit www.newcastle.gov.uk/universalcredit • For financial inclusion information benefit bulletins, consultancy telephone numbers & resources, visit www.newcastle.gov.uk/financialinclusionforprofessionals • To join the circulation list to receive weekly information updates, email activeinclusion@newcastle.gov.uk
- 80. USING DATA ANALYTICS TO UNDERSTAND WHAT DRIVES LIVING STANDARDS Deven Ghelani, Founder and Director, Policy in Practice
- 81. Deven Ghelani Policy in Practice Using data to understand Universal Credit and the drivers of living standards
- 82. Agenda 1. Introducing Policy in Practice 2. Pooling data: Power across the North 3. Findings so far: Low income Londoners 4. Your Universal Credit Caseload 5. Why we want to work with you
- 83. We make the welfare system simple to understand, so that people can make the decisions that are right for them
- 85. The power of pooled data 25% - 33% of the total population
- 86. Your Housing Benefit / Council Tax data + Arrears + Support Benefit and Budgeting Analytics Engine Who is impacted, How much? What actions can they take? Are they better off? What are the Council- wide effects? Analytical engine + household datasets
- 87. Low income families with children
- 88. Local authority Children in poverty B&D 22467 TowerHamlets 12607 Coventry 12005 Cornwall 9602 Luton 8297 Newcastle 8174 Croydon 7472 Barnet 6533 WF 6295 Lambeth 6293 Camden 6069 Greenwich 6048 Haringey 5655 Islington 4781 Newport 4693 Basingstoke 3882 Denbighshire 2257 Exeter 1687 Wokingham 854 Children’s commissioner Indicators of vulnerability • 21 - children in poverty • 21.1 - children in food poverty • 21.2 - children in low income families • 21.3 - children in workless families • 22 - children in families with poor inter- parental relationships • 23 - children in lone-parent families • 24 - children of prisoners • 25 - children living with friends or wider family Children in relative poverty
- 89. The static picture • Working-age households in work: 42% • Average number of hours worked: 25 • 80% of households earn below living wage. Phase 1: understanding churn Dynamic analysis • 12% of households moved into or out of work in the last 12 months. • 8% of out of work households moved into work. Disability is the greatest barrier into work. By shifting the focus from the aggregate figures to dynamic analysis, a picture of constantly changing employment patterns emerges.
- 90. Causal analysis: Households affected by the Benefit Cap are 21% more likely to move into work, versus a control group. Future policy impacts: 78% of low-income self- employed households are set to lose out by over £4,000 per year. Phase 2: tracking who is hardest hit
- 91. Impacted by the benefit cap for over six months 5,772 Households impacted by the benefit cap over the last 6 months from Jan 2018 Borough Percentage of households currently impacted by the benefit cap who were impacted for a 6 month period Sutton 74.2% Croydon 67.8% K&C 66.6% WF 65.7% Southwark 65.3% Greenwich 64.5% Lambeth 64.3% Haringey 63.3% B&D 62.5% Islington 62.0% Brent 61.6% Enfield 60.4% Camden 60.3% Hackney 60.1% Ealing 56.3% TowerHamlets 54.4% Barnet 54.2%
- 93. Phase 3: understanding resilience One in seven low-income London families (15%) has an income that does not meet their costs. One in every three low-income families faced a cash shortfall for at least one month in the last two years, accruing a shortfall of over £2,000 over nine months. The number of struggling households is expected to triple in the coming years.
- 94. Financial resilience needs to be better understood
- 95. Recent coverage of our analysis Benefit Cap: Policy in Practice gave evidence to the Work and Pensions Select Committee, October 2018
- 96. LOW INCOME LONDONERS AND UNIVERSAL CREDIT
- 97. Who is on Universal Credit? • One-third of all households on Universal Credit • Who is worse off, better off • Actionable information • Drill-down to see exactly who needs what support • Engage them with a detailed calculation • Show them how they can be better off • Evidence the impact of your support
- 98. Why we want to work with you
- 99. Consistent data-driven measures that build a detailed granular picture of poverty and living standards. Improve people’s incomes through take- up, targeting local support and actions to promote independence. Better use of limited public funds through better targeting & proactive preparation for future reforms. A common platform to track outcomes and living standards allows best practice to be shared. Influence national policy and funding through evidence-backed inclusive economic growth. Proactive support that is shown to work
- 100. Questions and learn more • Policy in Practice Select Committee analysis on the Benefit Cap • House of Commons – Universal Credit in your area • DWP – Stat-Xplore • Policy in Practice – Pan-London analysis • Policy in Practice – LIFT Dashboard for Universal Credit impacts • Policy in Practice – Benefit and Budgeting Calculator • Influence National Policy – email hello@ to join our Leading Lights • Come and see a demo and ask questions Local authorities will have to play a pro-active role The demand for Universal Credit data to make local support effective is essential if the support you provide means preventing homelessness, and stopping children from falling into care.
- 101. 101101101 Thank you Deven Ghelani deven@policyinpractice.co.uk 07863 560677 Donna Gallagher donna@policyinpractice.co.uk 07428 783581 Sign up to learn more hello@policyinpractice.co.uk 0330 088 9242
- 103. LESSONS FROM UNIVERSAL CREDIT ROLLOUT: IMPACT ON ORGANISATIONS AND TENANTS Fiona Heighton, Thirteen Housing Group Jonathan Horsfall, Housing Trust Michelle Birley, The Guinness Partnership
- 105. Thirteen Housing Group – Universal Credit Fiona Heighton – Financial Support Service Manager
- 106. About Thirteen • Housing Association created in 2014 • Erimus Housing, Housing Hartlepool, Tees Valley Housing and Tristar Homes • 34,000 properties Tyneside to York • 1500 staff • 3 main areas – Hartlepool, Middlesbrough and Stockton
- 107. Universal Credit at Thirteen • Live service 2015 • Full service - Hartlepool December 2016/ Stockton July 2018/ Middlesbrough October 2018 • New claims: - August – Hartlepool 47/ Stockton 163 - September - Hartlepool 48/ Stockton 170
- 108. Main Challenges • Rent collection • Managing individual assessment periods and payment dates • Understanding different processes – Live and Full • Communication – “explicit consent” • Reporting rent changes • Untidy tenancies • Sanctions • Closing claims
- 109. Landlord Portal – Rent Verification • Prompt notification of claim • Landlord identified via property upload • Quicker then SRS process • No more missing verification requests • Improved APA process • Trusted Partner Status
- 110. Landlord Portal – Rent Verification • Unknown claim date • Not a communication tool • Cannot retrieve data once submitted • Duplicate requests • Data must match Portal data • Delays in APA decisions • Unable to stop APA’s
- 111. Alternative Payment Arrangements • Landlord not paid on same day as claimant • Paid on four weekly schedules not monthly • Payment references not updated for change of addresses (same landlord) – can complete an “ePRS03” form but issues often continues – claimant should report issue via journal
- 112. Thirteen’s Response • New Universal Credit Support Team – 1 Team Leader/ 13 Coordinators/ 2 Administrators • Training to all front line teams • Universal Credit Conferences • Social Policy
- 113. Support – Claim to Payment Getting Claim Right Waiting Period Payment Date • Help make claim/ check claim • Educate on UC processes / mitigate impact • Book ID appointment • Help complete ‘To-Do’s’ • Obtain payment date and assessment period information • ‘Housing Costs’ declared correctly • Identify bedroom tax issues • Apply for LA DHP • Identify and address other potential issues – non deps, health, WCA • Identify vulnerability and apply for ‘APA’ • HB – maximized + 2 week run on • Apply for Council Tax Support • Refer to Money Advice Team for help with legacy benefit issues • Discuss UC entitlement, rent liability & expectations • Inform Neighbourhood Coordinator • Food and Utilities - help access crisis support • Other financial assistance – apply for furniture packs, white goods etc., where eligible • Advance – apply if unavoidable • Provide budgeting advice to keep advance to minimum • Continue education on UC processes/ claimant control • Continue to identify ‘vulnerability’ • Identify and report welfare rights issues • Re-confirm UC entitlement, rent liability and expectations • Refer for Money Advice Team for help with legacy benefit issues • Update Neighbourhood Coordinator • Check UC award and take rent payment • Agree and set up future payment methods e.g. Direct Debit • Continue support until ongoing UC issues resolved • Record date ‘Managed Payment’ due date, period covered for recovery processes • Advise on ‘claim management’ • Promote Money Advice Team for future issues
- 114. Support Outcomes • Target set – average arrears attributable to UC £200 or less at payment date • Actual performance – average of £33 • 500 new claims per month • Work to be undertaken to look at arrears longer term
- 115. Universal Credit Conferences • Conferences held in Stockton and Middlesbrough • Highlight issues and the impact of UC in Hartlepool and other Full Service areas • Understand the support available and minimise the impacts for claimants • Identify training needs/ opportunities • Network and develop partnerships • Feed into a local UC action plan
- 116. Social Policy • CPAG Early Warning System (EWS) • Case studies – impact of welfare reform on children and families • Staff encouraged to complete reporting form • Provide evidence for action
- 117. Summary • Understand the changes that UC brings • Be aware of and utilise support available • Invest resource at claim to get it right
- 118. Fiona Heighton – Financial Support Service Manager Fiona.heighton@thirteengroup.co.uk
- 119. 23rd October 2018 Universal Credit Full service
- 120. Universal Credit our journey
- 121. Digital First 87% of contact via digital Focus of resources Agile workforce Increase in debt recovery, tenancy support and welfare teams Ongoing communication and publicity but not that much Action taken prior to UC introduction
- 122. UC Live Service introduced in November 2014 232 claimants up to July 2016 3 per week 89k or 10% better than arrears target Arrears on UC cases managed effectively Universal Credit in Halton - Live service
- 123. 3 Major Impacts • Increase in numbers • Changes in communication • APA applications Universal Credit in Halton – Full service
- 124. UC Full service from 27th July 2016 Immediate impact 20 new cases per week As at end of Sept 2018 1830 UC customers – estimate 3000 in total April 2018 had first drop in numbers Universal Credit in Halton – Full service
- 125. 26% of customer owe 63% of arrears 65% who owed nothing now owe on average £447 Average arrears •HB £88 –UC £421- other £121 20% now owe £500+ since UC Possession action taken on 252 UC cases of which 75% post UC claim 227K Increase in arrears over 12 months UC Collection rate 90% UC Statistics
- 126. More UC Statistics 366 265 235 212 122 147 195 203 182 331 253 286 284 296 221 255 228 302 0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400 Pre July 16 July -Sept 16 Oct-Dec 16 Jan - Mar 17 April-June 17 July -Sept 17 Oct-Dec 17 Jan-Mar 18 April-June 18 UC impact
- 127. FCA arrears of over £165k 22% of all terminations were by UC customers 69% of evictions involved UC customers Overall average arrears at termination £402 Average arrears of UC customers at termination £1179 Average length of tenancy 4 years Average length of UC claim 9 months 36% in receipt of APA Impact of UC on terminations 2017-18
- 128. Highest increase in arrears if Pre UC debt of between £1000 - £1500 Tenancy commencement in 2017 Under the age of 25 years And male UC impact
- 129. Number of cases Communication • Doubling of customer contact • Tenancy issues • Reactive not proactive action • Explicit consent • Issue with information on the journal • Transition from live to full service Unchallenged acceptance • No need for action or investigation it’s a UC claim Reason for increase in arrears
- 130. Complexity of cases for example UC for in work claimants Rent free….. I mean non-charging weeks Lack of clarity over legal action • Continue to court incur costs (unnecessarily ?) • Trust customers to make payments • APA applications • Response in court • Evidence in court Reasons for increase
- 131. Drop from 43% to 21% now 33% Payment schedule 13th payment Payment not received /as expected Payment out of line with performance reports Payment claimants responsibility Revisit, review, rethink APA ..or not
- 132. Frustration/blame/anger No income/doubling of foodbank usage Income fluctuations Health issues & suicide claims Locally person budgeting advice largely a link on the ‘journal’ to the Money Advice Service. Issues for customers/ staff
- 133. Focus and support from Chief Executive Pre tenancy investigation, action and support Follow escalation process for arrears cases At customer contact focus on rent payment to maximise debt reduction Develop relationships with local partnership manager and JCP Using data on customers financial and behavioural profile for targeted approach Action taken to tackle UC issues
- 134. Portal and electronic APA schedules Customers seem more UC ‘savvy’ so they know what to expect/ our expectations Staff knowledge for example contacting via 3rd party deductions line to check APA payments Staff knowledge is growing and developing offering more in-depth advice etc. early intervention to prevent escalation Acceptance that issues with UC now become the new norm and have adapted approach Recent UC developments impacting on debt
- 135. APA , APA, APA ! Different priority for welfare support Different approach to arrears management – move away from 4 week cycle More complicated but fundamentally same approach/issues Impact of other job centres coming on line Issues for Halton Housing
- 136. Priorities for Halton Housing Trust Slow roll out of UC so staff ,IT & process are fit for purpose Improve information on landlord portal Consistency of service, timescale and information to claimants ,with a transparent complaints process Prepare for increased level of claimant support as more complex cases start to enter transition phase Simplified and more “live” payment service for claimants and landlords Claimants option of having their housing costs paid direct to their landlord Greater flexibility in payment cycles and a shift away from the default mechanism of monthly payments in arrears.
- 137. Questions Name: Tel: Mob: Email: Facebook: www.facebook.com/halton-housing-trust Twitter: Jonathan Horsfall 0151 510 5000 0790 355 5370 jonathan.horsfall@haltonhousing.org
- 138. <Insert title using Ariel 26pt> <Insert date using Arial 18pt> Our journey through Universal Credit Michelle Birley - Customer Support Manager Nadine Burns - Customer Support Team Manager
- 139. The Guinness Partnership Top 10 local authorities Homes Cheshire East 5,428 Milton Keynes 5,203 Havant 3,896 Manchester 3,847 Sheffield 2,378 Rochdale 2,110 Stockport 1,680 Hackney 1,652 Oldham 1,355 Gloucester 1,231 North: 32,035 homes South: 18,619 homes West: 15,521 homes 170+ LAs / 650+ Job Centres
- 140. We’re here to improve people’s lives and create possibilities for them. Our social purpose We describe ourselves as a customer service organisation because it’s our tenants and residents that we’re here for.
- 141. • In 2014 – 2016 housing facing significant welfare reform • Universal Credit Live • Did not know who was claiming Universal Credit • Small numbers, but 21% arrears • DWP limited housing knowledge • In-house systems being developed • Learning as we went along Our Universal Credit journey
- 142. Category TGPL (nationally) Number of Customers claiming UC >4,600 UC claims a % of (working age) benefit claimants across Guinness homes 7.5% Average arrears of current UC customers £836 at 6 weeks £309 at 26 weeks £617 as a % of debit 12.6% What is changing? • Up to 800 new claimants a month • 12 months ago: 1,222 claimants / 21.5% arrears • 9% arrears reduction & arrears stabilising after 26 weeks Where our customers and Guinness are now
- 143. • DWP Trusted Partner Status and access to the Landlord portal • System changes • Prevention – pre-tenancy, week 1, week 5, week 8 • Customer support – guidance, help, advice • Alternative Payments Arrangements • Universal Credit tracker • Speed, efficiency and intervention How have we achieved this?
- 144. Hardship Food Employment Andrew’s story…. Universal Credit and the impact on our customers
- 145. We see our customers face barriers to sustaining tenancies and creating homes Barriers to a successful tenancy Fuel • Metered supply • Rising energy costs • Cold home Finance • Zero hours / low pay • Capped benefits / sanctions • Debt • No budgeting skills / financial confidence Furniture • No basics – empty home • No white goods / unsafe white goods • Credit unaffordable Food • Low choice / high prices locally • Reliance on food banks • Low skills / low confidence • Choice of heat / eat / clothe
- 146. Supporting our customers… going further It’s very challenging for our customers • Challenging times for some of our customers • Dedicated Customer Support Team • Centralised telephone based service • Finding the right external support agencies • Tackling Finance, Food, Fuel and Furniture issues • Increasing our customers ability to pay for their home • Supported over 4,000 customers since April • Achieved £4 million to sustain tenancies Reducing poverty Achieving successful, independent tenancies
- 147. Successful homes Fuel • Not in fuel poverty • On the right (social) tariff • Energy efficiency and advice • Confident to switch • Accessing support from utility Finance • Able to pay rent • Financially confident & able to budget • Right benefits at the right rate • Manageable debt • Employed / seeking employment • Not sanctioned Food • Not reliant on food banks • Able to identify and buy affordable food • Have the equipment to prepare food Furniture • Has the basics, at least – beds, chairs, bedding, table • Safe white goods – fridge, cooker, washing machine Empowering customers to have a successful, independent tenancy in their home
- 148. Housing provides universal support. Help us to help our customers - we want to get this right: • Pragmatic, practical approach to Explicit Consent • Even better communication through the landlord portal • A national Partnership Manager for large HA’s • Dedicated landlord number • More consistent advice from the service centre Migration – transitional protection, slowly / by geography, inform landlords so we can support. Practical things DWP could do to help us
- 149. • The 5 week wait causes real hardship • Employment Support Allowance – limited capability • Job centres near work place • Severe Disability Premium timescales • Improved joint-to-sole applications • Advice to employers about real time information • Non-dependant deductions / under-occupancy Things DWP could do to help customers
- 151. TABLE DISCUSSIONS
- 152. FINAL WORDS AND NEXT STEPS Satty Rai, Northern Housing Consortium Deven Ghelani, Policy in Practice